Malicious Code Injection in amused_fox_z3n Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-99404: Malicious code in amused_fox_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
The 'amused_fox_z3n' package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file by removing private flags and changing version numbers. It generates random package names, often themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages, leading to potential security breaches and loss of trust in the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall amused_fox_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary measure, you can avoid using the 'amused_fox_z3n' package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The 'amused_fox_z3n' package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses significant risks to developers and the npm ecosystem. It is crucial to remove this package and monitor your projects for vulnerabilities to maintain security and integrity.
See every vulnerability recorded for amused_fox_z3n →
FAQ
It is an npm package linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the generation of derivative packages.
The malicious code can compromise your project's integrity, leading to potential security risks and pollution of the npm registry.
You should uninstall the 'amused_fox_z3n' package immediately using 'npm uninstall amused_fox_z3n' to mitigate any risks.
Yes, consider looking for other npm packages that offer similar functionalities without the associated risks.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just your package-lock.json. You can also check if your application is affected by this vulnerability using the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner.
