Malicious Code Injection in compatible_clownfish_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-93665: Malicious code in compatible_clownfish_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The compatible_clownfish_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 scripts that compromise the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's malicious code, 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 harming developers' reputations and project integrity. The malicious payload is designed to exploit the npm ecosystem by creating numerous derivative packages, which can confuse users and lead to security risks.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall compatible_clownfish_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, you can prevent the installation of this malicious package by using npm's package-lock.json to monitor your dependencies. Ensure that you regularly audit your dependencies with 'npm audit' to identify any vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The compatible_clownfish_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that can compromise the integrity of your npm projects. It is crucial to remove this package and monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain a secure development environment.
See every vulnerability recorded for compatible_clownfish_z3n →
FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The malicious code can modify your package.json file, leading to the removal of private flags and the creation of numerous unwanted packages, which can harm your project's integrity.
You should uninstall the compatible_clownfish_z3n package immediately and check your package-lock.json for any lingering references.
Yes, you can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access or installation.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
