Malicious Code Injection in cheap_scallop_z3n: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-93520: Malicious code in cheap_scallop_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
The package 'cheap_scallop_z3n' is part of a series of npm packages that emerged during the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to inflate developer reputation scores by automatically generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names. This behavior not only clutters the npm registry but also poses significant security risks to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'cheap_scallop_z3n' originates from its malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This allows the package to continuously republish variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially leading to the installation of compromised software by developers. The malicious scripts (auto.js, autopublish.js, autopublish2.js, autopublish3.js) are specifically designed to automate this process, making it difficult for developers to detect the malicious activity.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall cheap_scallop_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, you can avoid using the 'cheap_scallop_z3n' package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Always verify the integrity of the packages you choose to include in your project.
Conclusion
The 'cheap_scallop_z3n' package poses a significant security threat due to its malicious behavior of modifying package.json files and republishing variants. Developers should take immediate action to remove this package and ensure their projects are secure by using trusted dependencies.
See every vulnerability recorded for cheap_scallop_z3n →
FAQ
'cheap_scallop_z3n' 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 installation of compromised software, which may introduce security risks, data breaches, or other malicious activities in your project.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. By using the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner, you can check if your application is affected without needing to sign up.
If you have installed 'cheap_scallop_z3n', you should uninstall it immediately using 'npm uninstall cheap_scallop_z3n' and review your project's dependencies for any other potentially compromised packages.
No patches are available for 'cheap_scallop_z3n' as it is a malicious package. The best course of action is to remove it from your project.
