Malicious Code Vulnerability in appalling_chameleon_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-93246: Malicious code in appalling_chameleon_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 appalling_chameleon_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is used for managing JavaScript packages. It is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood npm with various packages. This package, like others in the campaign, is designed to manipulate npm's publishing system, potentially harming developers and users by inflating reputation scores through malicious practices.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the appalling_chameleon_z3n package originates from its association with a malicious campaign that employs scripts to automatically generate and publish derivative packages. These scripts modify the package.json file to remove private flags, alter version numbers, and create random package names, ultimately leading to the pollution of the npm registry. This can result in compromised developer reputations and the proliferation of potentially harmful packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall appalling_chameleon_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 workaround, you can temporarily avoid using the appalling_chameleon_z3n package by removing it from your dependencies and replacing it with a trusted alternative. Ensure to audit your package-lock.json file for any other potentially vulnerable packages.
Conclusion
The appalling_chameleon_z3n package contains a significant vulnerability that can lead to malicious activities within the npm ecosystem. It is crucial for developers to be aware of this issue, remove the affected package, and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in their projects.
See every vulnerability recorded for appalling_chameleon_z3n →
FAQ
It is an npm package associated with a token reward campaign that has been identified as malicious.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and compromise your project's integrity by introducing malicious code.
You should remove the appalling_chameleon_z3n package from your project and monitor for any updates or patches.
You can use Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access or installation.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without signing up.
