Malicious Code Injection in assistant_emu_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-93285: Malicious code in assistant_emu_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The assistant_emu_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 generation and publication of derivative packages, often with randomized names, to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been compromised, leading to significant security concerns.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability stems from malicious code embedded within the assistant_emu_z3n package. This code modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names, which can lead to the continuous republishing of these variants. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses risks to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages, potentially leading to reputational damage and security breaches.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall assistant_emu_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 assistant_emu_z3n package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, regularly audit your package dependencies to ensure they are secure.
Conclusion
The assistant_emu_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that can compromise projects using it. It is crucial to remove this package and monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain the security of your applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for assistant_emu_z3n →
FAQ
The assistant_emu_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and is involved in generating and publishing derivative packages for the tea.xyz token reward campaign.
The vulnerability can lead to the introduction of malicious code into your project, potentially compromising its security and integrity.
You should uninstall the assistant_emu_z3n package immediately and check for any dependencies that may be affected.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just your package-lock.json file. You can check your application for vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground without any signup.
Regularly audit your dependencies using tools like npm audit and consider using services like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities.
