Malicious Code Injection in blank_kiwi_z3n Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-93396: Malicious code in blank_kiwi_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The blank_kiwi_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 automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and the security of applications relying on it.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the blank_kiwi_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 packages. The malicious code can compromise the security of applications that depend on this package, leading to unauthorized access or data manipulation.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall blank_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 avoid using the blank_kiwi_z3n package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, regularly monitor your package dependencies for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert, which can alert you to open-source vulnerabilities in real-time.
Conclusion
The blank_kiwi_z3n package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package configurations and pollutes the npm registry. It is crucial to remove this package from your projects and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in your dependencies.
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FAQ
The blank_kiwi_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the publication of derivative packages.
The vulnerability modifies package.json files, removes private flags, changes version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to pollution of the npm registry.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
You should uninstall the blank_kiwi_z3n package immediately using the command: npm uninstall blank_kiwi_z3n.
Yes, Vulert provides a service that monitors your package-lock.json file for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time, alerting you to any issues.
