Malicious Code Injection in balanced_rat_z3n Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-93347: Malicious code in balanced_rat_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The balanced_rat_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and appears to be associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publishing of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores in exchange for token rewards. Its functionality is compromised due to the presence of malicious scripts that manipulate package metadata.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the balanced_rat_z3n package stems from its inclusion in a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with derivative packages. The malicious code modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the pollution of the npm registry. This can result in developers unknowingly using compromised packages, which may introduce security risks and instability into their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall balanced_rat_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a workaround, you can avoid using the balanced_rat_z3n package altogether and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, consider using the Vulert tool to monitor your package-lock.json file for vulnerabilities in real-time.
Conclusion
The balanced_rat_z3n package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is essential to remove this package from your project and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in your dependencies.
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FAQ
The balanced_rat_z3n package is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores through the automatic generation of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the introduction of malicious code into your application, potentially compromising its security and stability.
You should uninstall the balanced_rat_z3n package immediately using the command npm uninstall balanced_rat_z3n and monitor your dependencies for any other vulnerabilities.
Yes, Vulert allows you to monitor your package-lock.json file for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access or installation.
There is no patch for the balanced_rat_z3n package due to its malicious nature. The best course of action is to remove it from your project.
