Malicious Code Vulnerability in curious_booby_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-93884: Malicious code in curious_booby_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The curious_booby_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and appears to be associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the generation and publication of derivative packages, often with randomized names, to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. The malicious nature of this package compromises its integrity and poses risks to users and the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the curious_booby_z3n package originates from its inclusion in a series of malicious packages that flood the npm registry. These packages contain scripts that modify the package.json file to remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially harming 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 curious_booby_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a workaround, you can temporarily avoid using the curious_booby_z3n package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, consider using npm audit to identify and address vulnerabilities in your dependencies.
Conclusion
The curious_booby_z3n package presents a significant security risk due to its malicious code designed to manipulate package data and flood the npm registry. It is essential for developers to remove this package and monitor their projects for vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of their applications.
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FAQ
The curious_booby_z3n package is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores through the generation of derivative packages.
This vulnerability can compromise the integrity of your project by introducing malicious code that modifies package configurations and floods the npm registry with unwanted packages.
If you have installed the curious_booby_z3n package, it is crucial to remove it immediately and monitor your project for any unusual behavior.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just the package-lock.json file. You can check your application against known vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground.
To prevent future vulnerabilities, regularly audit your dependencies, use trusted packages, and stay informed about security advisories related to the packages you use.
