Malicious Code Injection in Competent Meerkat Z3N Package
Summary
MAL-2025-93670: Malicious code in competent_meerkat_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The 'competent_meerkat_z3n' package is part of the npm ecosystem, often used in JavaScript projects. It is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with numerous packages. This package, like others in the campaign, is designed to inflate developer reputation scores through automated publishing of derivative packages with randomized names.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the 'competent_meerkat_z3n' package stems from its malicious payload that modifies the package.json file. It removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of variants. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages, potentially leading to security breaches in their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall competent_meerkat_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 'competent_meerkat_z3n' package and instead look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The 'competent_meerkat_z3n' package presents a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters project files and repopulates the npm registry with compromised packages. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their projects for similar vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, known for flooding the npm registry with malicious packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the modification of your package.json file, potentially compromising your project's integrity and security.
You should uninstall the 'competent_meerkat_z3n' package immediately using the command: npm uninstall competent_meerkat_z3n.
Yes, Vulert can monitor and alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just the package-lock.json file.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without needing to sign up.
