Malicious Code Injection in cheap_emu_z3n: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-100356: Malicious code in cheap_emu_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'cheap_emu_z3n' 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 the campaign, is characterized by its use of autopublish scripts that create numerous variants of itself, potentially leading to pollution of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'cheap_emu_z3n' stems from its malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior is intended to continuously republish variants, thereby compromising the integrity of the npm registry. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which exploits npm's publishing mechanisms to inflate scores fraudulently. The ramifications include potential security risks for developers who unknowingly use these packages, as they may introduce unwanted code into their projects.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall cheap_emu_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 prevent the installation of this malicious package by using npm's package-lock.json to monitor dependencies. Ensure that your project does not include 'cheap_emu_z3n' in its dependencies. You can check your package-lock.json file for any references to this package and remove them if found.
Conclusion
The 'cheap_emu_z3n' package presents a significant risk due to its malicious code designed to manipulate the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to be vigilant and remove this package from their projects. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in monitoring and identifying vulnerabilities in real-time.
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FAQ
'cheap_emu_z3n' is an npm package associated with a token reward campaign that automates the generation of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can introduce malicious code into your project, potentially compromising its security and integrity.
You should uninstall the package immediately to mitigate any risks associated with its malicious behavior.
Yes, you can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without needing to sign up.
