Malicious Code Injection in complete_gopher_z3n Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-100768: Malicious code in complete_gopher_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The complete_gopher_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with malicious packages. These packages often contain scripts designed to manipulate package metadata and inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the complete_gopher_z3n package stems from malicious code that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior is intended to pollute the npm registry by continuously republishing variants, which can lead to security risks and trust issues within the ecosystem. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which exploits npm's publishing mechanisms.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall complete_gopher_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 prevent the installation of this package by using npm's package-lock.json to monitor your dependencies. Ensure that you do not include complete_gopher_z3n in your project dependencies. You can also use tools like Vulert to monitor your project for vulnerabilities in real-time.
Conclusion
The complete_gopher_z3n package presents a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is crucial to remove this package from your project and implement monitoring tools like Vulert to safeguard against future vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
The complete_gopher_z3n package is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign to inflate developer reputation scores through the publication of derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, potentially exposing your project to security risks and affecting the integrity of your dependencies.
If you have installed the complete_gopher_z3n package, you should uninstall it immediately using the command npm uninstall complete_gopher_z3n.
Regularly update your dependencies, use trusted packages, and monitor your project with tools like Vulert to detect vulnerabilities in real-time.
Vulert is a monitoring tool that uses your package-lock.json to alert you in real-time about open-source vulnerabilities in your software. You can check your application for vulnerabilities without needing to sign up.
