Malicious Code Injection in continuing_barracuda_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-93775: Malicious code in continuing_barracuda_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The continuing_barracuda_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 distribution of token rewards through various scripts. However, it has been identified as a malicious package that modifies its own metadata and publishes derivative versions to manipulate the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the malicious intent behind the continuing_barracuda_z3n package, which contains scripts that automatically generate and publish derivative packages with altered metadata. This includes removing private flags from package.json, changing version numbers, and creating random package names. The continuous republishing of these variants can lead to pollution of the npm registry, potentially affecting developers' reputations and the integrity of the ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall continuing_barracuda_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 continuing_barracuda_z3n package and consider alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can monitor your dependencies using tools like Vulert to identify any vulnerabilities in your project.
Conclusion
The continuing_barracuda_z3n package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that modifies package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is crucial to remove this package from your project and monitor for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert to maintain the integrity of your software.
See every vulnerability recorded for continuing_barracuda_z3n →
FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been identified as malicious.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and may affect your project's integrity and reputation.
You should remove the continuing_barracuda_z3n package from your project immediately.
Yes, you can use Vulert to monitor and alert for open-source vulnerabilities in your software without requiring code access.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without any signup.
