Malicious Code Vulnerability in bold_bedbug_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-98633: Malicious code in bold_bedbug_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The bold_bedbug_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. It is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. This package, like others in its category, is vulnerable to exploitation due to its autopublish scripts that can manipulate package metadata.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the bold_bedbug_z3n package originates from its inclusion in a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with derivative packages. The malicious payload modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to pollution of the npm registry. This can result in developers unknowingly using compromised packages, which may introduce security risks into their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall bold_bedbug_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 bold_bedbug_z3n package and monitor your project for any dependencies that may indirectly include it. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to monitor your package-lock.json file for vulnerabilities in real-time.
Conclusion
The bold_bedbug_z3n package is vulnerable to exploitation due to its involvement in a malicious campaign that affects the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain the security of their applications.
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FAQ
The bold_bedbug_z3n package is an npm package associated with a token reward campaign that generates and publishes derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the inclusion of malicious code in your project, potentially compromising its security and integrity.
You should remove the bold_bedbug_z3n package from your project and check for any other dependencies that may have been affected.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file for vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access or installation.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without signing up.
