Malicious Code Injection in arbitrary_kiwi_z3n Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-99538: Malicious code in arbitrary_kiwi_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The arbitrary_kiwi_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that aims to exploit the npm registry by flooding it with derivative packages. These packages are designed to inflate developer reputation scores for the tea protocol token rewards, making them a significant threat to the integrity of the npm ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the arbitrary_kiwi_z3n package stems from its malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially compromising other packages. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to a campaign that utilizes autopublish scripts to automate the creation and distribution of these malicious packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall arbitrary_kiwi_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 remove the arbitrary_kiwi_z3n package from your project by running the following command: npm uninstall arbitrary_kiwi_z3n. This will prevent any malicious code from executing in your environment until a patched version is released.
Conclusion
The arbitrary_kiwi_z3n package poses a significant threat due to its malicious code designed to exploit the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to take immediate action by updating or removing the package to safeguard their projects. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help monitor and alert for such vulnerabilities in real-time.
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FAQ
The arbitrary_kiwi_z3n package is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign aimed at exploiting the npm registry.
This vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and may compromise the integrity of your project by introducing malicious code.
You can use Vulert's playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
If you cannot update the package immediately, it is recommended to uninstall the arbitrary_kiwi_z3n package as a temporary measure.
More information about this vulnerability can be found in the official npm advisory and by monitoring updates from security sources.
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