Malicious Code Injection in constitutional_hookworm_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-93751: Malicious code in constitutional_hookworm_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The constitutional_hookworm_z3n package is part of the tea.xyz token reward campaign that has recently infiltrated the npm ecosystem. This package is designed to facilitate token rewards through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages. However, it has been identified as containing malicious scripts that compromise its integrity and the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability stems from the presence of malicious code within the constitutional_hookworm_z3n package. This code modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, which are then continuously republished. This behavior not only inflates developer reputation scores but also pollutes the npm registry, potentially leading to security risks for users who unknowingly install these compromised packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall constitutional_hookworm_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 constitutional_hookworm_z3n package altogether and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The constitutional_hookworm_z3n package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and republishing behavior. It is essential to remove this package from your projects and monitor for similar vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert.
See every vulnerability recorded for constitutional_hookworm_z3n →
FAQ
It is a package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the generation and publication of npm packages.
The malicious code can modify your package.json, remove private flags, and publish unauthorized packages, potentially leading to security vulnerabilities.
You should uninstall the package immediately using 'npm uninstall constitutional_hookworm_z3n' and check your project for any dependencies that may be affected.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software by analyzing your package-lock.json file.
Absolutely! You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities in your application without any signup.
