Malicious Code Injection in average_dinosaur_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-93316: Malicious code in average_dinosaur_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The average_dinosaur_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, typically used for various JavaScript applications. It is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been linked to a series of malicious packages flooding the npm registry. This package, like others in the campaign, is designed to manipulate npm's publishing system for fraudulent purposes.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the average_dinosaur_z3n package stems from its malicious code that modifies the package.json file by removing private flags and altering version numbers. It generates random package names, primarily themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants to manipulate developer reputation scores. This can lead to significant pollution of the npm registry, making it difficult for developers to find legitimate packages and potentially compromising the security of applications that depend on this package.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall average_dinosaur_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, avoid using the average_dinosaur_z3n package and consider using alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The average_dinosaur_z3n package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that manipulates npm's publishing system. It is crucial for developers to uninstall this package and monitor their projects for vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity and security of their applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for average_dinosaur_z3n →
FAQ
It is an npm package linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been identified as malicious.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and may compromise the security of your application if it relies on this package.
You should uninstall the average_dinosaur_z3n package immediately and monitor for any updates or patches.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just package-lock.json. You can check if your application is affected by visiting the Vulert playground.
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