Malicious Code Injection in anxious_echidna_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-93242: Malicious code in anxious_echidna_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The 'anxious_echidna_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 security of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the 'anxious_echidna_z3n' package stems from its malicious payload that modifies the package.json file. This includes removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names, which leads to the continuous republishing of variants. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages, potentially leading to further security issues in their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall anxious_echidna_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, you can prevent the installation of this package by using the following command to uninstall it: npm uninstall anxious_echidna_z3n. Additionally, consider using a tool like Vulert to monitor your project for vulnerabilities in real-time.
Conclusion
The 'anxious_echidna_z3n' package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses significant risks to developers and the npm ecosystem. It is crucial to take immediate action to remove this package and monitor your projects for vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help maintain the security of your applications.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The malicious code can compromise your application by modifying package.json and introducing potentially harmful packages into your project.
You should uninstall the 'anxious_echidna_z3n' package immediately and monitor your project for any other vulnerabilities.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities in your application without requiring an account.
Regularly monitor your dependencies using tools like Vulert and keep your packages updated to their latest secure versions.
