Malicious Code Injection in ancient_bovid_z3n Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-93227: Malicious code in ancient_bovid_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The ancient_bovid_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, primarily utilized for various JavaScript applications. It is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with numerous packages. This package, like others in the campaign, is designed to manipulate developer reputation scores through automated publishing scripts.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the ancient_bovid_z3n package stems from its malicious code that modifies the package.json file. This code removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of these variants. The origin of this issue is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which aims to inflate developer reputation scores by polluting the npm registry with derivative packages. The ramifications include potential security risks for developers who unknowingly use these packages, as they may introduce unwanted behavior into their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall ancient_bovid_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary workaround, avoid using the ancient_bovid_z3n package and monitor your project's dependencies for any malicious packages. You can also utilize tools like Vulert to scan your package-lock.json file for vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The ancient_bovid_z3n package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and repopulates the npm registry with potentially harmful variants. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies to maintain application security.
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FAQ
The ancient_bovid_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which aims to inflate developer reputation scores.
The vulnerability can lead to unwanted modifications in your package.json file, potentially introducing security risks and instability in your application.
If you have installed the ancient_bovid_z3n package, you should uninstall it immediately using the command: npm uninstall ancient_bovid_z3n.
Yes, you can use Vulert to monitor your package-lock.json file for vulnerabilities without requiring access to the code or installation.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
