Malicious Code Injection in courageous_ant_z3n: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-101036: Malicious code in courageous_ant_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'courageous_ant_z3n' is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to generate and publish derivative packages automatically, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and the security of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'courageous_ant_z3n' originates 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 these 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 further exploitation.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall courageous_ant_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, avoid using the 'courageous_ant_z3n' package and monitor your project for any dependencies that may have been affected by this malicious code. Regularly audit your package-lock.json file to identify any potentially compromised packages.
Conclusion
The 'courageous_ant_z3n' package poses a significant threat due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and pollutes the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies to maintain the integrity and security of their projects.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json, potentially leading to the use of compromised packages and affecting your project's security.
You can use Vulert's playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
Immediately uninstall the package using 'npm uninstall courageous_ant_z3n' and audit your project for any other affected dependencies.
Yes, Vulert can monitor and alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities using just your package-lock.json.
