Malicious Code Injection in appalling_crayfish_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-93247: Malicious code in appalling_crayfish_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The appalling_crayfish_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to generate and publish derivative packages with randomized names, aiming to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious scripts that compromise its integrity and the security of applications that depend on it.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the appalling_crayfish_z3n package stems from its inclusion in a malicious campaign that utilizes autopublish scripts to modify package.json files. These scripts remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of variants that pollute the npm registry. This can result in compromised applications, as developers may unknowingly install these malicious packages, exposing their systems to potential security threats.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall appalling_crayfish_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 avoid using the appalling_crayfish_z3n package altogether. If it is a dependency of another package, consider using alternative packages that do not have known vulnerabilities. Additionally, you can monitor your project for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert, which can alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities without requiring code access or installation.
Conclusion
The appalling_crayfish_z3n package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that modifies package.json files and repopulates the npm registry with harmful variants. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their projects for vulnerabilities to maintain application security.
See every vulnerability recorded for appalling_crayfish_z3n →
FAQ
The appalling_crayfish_z3n package is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores through the generation of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the installation of malicious packages that compromise your application's security, potentially exposing sensitive data or allowing unauthorized access.
You should uninstall the appalling_crayfish_z3n package immediately and check for any other dependencies that may be affected. Consider using alternative packages.
You can use Vulert to monitor your project for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. It requires only your package-lock.json file to provide alerts.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
Habilume
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Complete habits, earn Lume Points, and watch your Lume grow as you stay consistent.
