Malicious Code Injection in back_bovid_z3n Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-93339: Malicious code in back_bovid_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The back_bovid_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, which are often used to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and the security of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the back_bovid_z3n package originates 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 affecting other developers and applications that rely on npm packages. The malicious scripts included in the package are designed to automate these processes, making it difficult for users to detect the issue without proper monitoring.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall back_bovid_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 back_bovid_z3n package altogether and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The back_bovid_z3n package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of their projects.
See every vulnerability recorded for back_bovid_z3n →
FAQ
The back_bovid_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, potentially affecting other packages and developers who rely on npm for their projects.
If you have installed the back_bovid_z3n package, you should uninstall it immediately using the command: npm uninstall back_bovid_z3n.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just the package-lock.json file.
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