Malicious Code Injection in crowded_tick_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-101100: Malicious code in crowded_tick_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The crowded_tick_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 automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and security.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the malicious payload embedded within the crowded_tick_z3n package. This payload modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. It continuously republishes these variants to pollute the npm registry, potentially leading to security risks for developers and users who rely on this package. The malicious behavior is part of a broader scheme to exploit the npm ecosystem for token rewards.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall crowded_tick_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 remove the crowded_tick_z3n package from your project by executing the following command: npm uninstall crowded_tick_z3n. This will prevent any malicious code from executing while you seek a secure alternative.
Conclusion
The crowded_tick_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses a significant risk to developers and users. It is crucial to take immediate action by updating or removing the package to safeguard your project from potential threats.
See every vulnerability recorded for crowded_tick_z3n →
FAQ
crowded_tick_z3n is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the modification of your package.json file, removal of private flags, and the introduction of potentially harmful packages into your project.
You can use Vulert's playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
If you cannot update the package, consider removing it from your project as a temporary measure until a secure version is available.
For further inquiries, you can reach out to Amazon Inspector at actran@amazon.com.
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