Malicious Code Injection in anonymous_bison_z3n Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-99480: Malicious code in anonymous_bison_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The anonymous_bison_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package, like many others in the campaign, is designed to manipulate the npm registry by generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names. Its primary function is to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards, making it a target for malicious activities.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the anonymous_bison_z3n package stems from its malicious code, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags and alters version numbers. It generates random package names, primarily themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants to pollute the npm registry. This behavior can lead to significant security risks, including the potential for dependency confusion and the proliferation of untrustworthy packages in the ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall anonymous_bison_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, you can avoid using the anonymous_bison_z3n package and any packages that depend on it. Additionally, consider using npm audit to identify and address vulnerabilities in your project's dependencies.
Conclusion
The anonymous_bison_z3n package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that modifies package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is crucial to remove this package from your projects and stay vigilant about monitoring for vulnerabilities.
See every vulnerability recorded for anonymous_bison_z3n →
FAQ
The anonymous_bison_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to manipulate the npm registry.
The vulnerability can lead to the proliferation of untrustworthy packages, potentially compromising your project's security and integrity.
You should remove the anonymous_bison_z3n package from your project and monitor for any updates or patches.
You can use tools like npm audit or services like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities in real-time.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without needing to sign up.
