Malicious Code Injection in Complicated Koala Z3N Package
Summary
MAL-2025-100785: Malicious code in complicated_koala_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 'complicated_koala_z3n' package is part of the npm ecosystem, often used for various JavaScript applications. It is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood npm with packages that manipulate developer reputation scores. This package, like others in the campaign, is designed to automatically generate and publish derivative packages, potentially leading to a polluted npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability stems from malicious code embedded within the 'complicated_koala_z3n' package. This code modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, primarily themed around Indonesian culture. The malicious payload continuously republishes these variants, which can lead to reputation inflation for developers and compromise 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.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall complicated_koala_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 prevent the installation of this package by using the following command to uninstall it: npm uninstall complicated_koala_z3n. Additionally, you can monitor your project for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert, which can analyze your package-lock.json file for any open-source vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The 'complicated_koala_z3n' package contains a serious vulnerability due to malicious code that alters package metadata and repopulates the npm registry with potentially harmful packages. It is crucial to take immediate action by updating or removing the package and utilizing tools like Vulert for ongoing monitoring.
See every vulnerability recorded for complicated_koala_z3n →
FAQ
It is an npm package that is part of a token reward campaign, known for generating and publishing derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and may compromise the integrity of your project's dependencies.
If no patched version is available, it is recommended to remove the package from your project to mitigate the risk.
Yes, you can use Vulert to monitor your project in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities by analyzing your package-lock.json file.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
