Malicious Code Injection in Defeated Quail Z3N Package
Summary
MAL-2025-101265: Malicious code in defeated_quail_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
The 'defeated_quail_z3n' package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. It is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. This package is particularly vulnerable due to its inclusion of autopublish scripts that manipulate package metadata.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the 'defeated_quail_z3n' package arises from malicious code that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior is intended to pollute the npm registry by continuously republishing variants of the package, which can lead to security risks and reputation damage for developers. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has flooded the npm ecosystem with similar malicious packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall defeated_quail_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, you can prevent the installation of this package by using npm's package-lock.json to monitor dependencies. Ensure that your project does not include 'defeated_quail_z3n' in its dependencies. You can also use the following command to uninstall it if it is already installed: npm uninstall defeated_quail_z3n.
Conclusion
The 'defeated_quail_z3n' package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code designed to manipulate package metadata and pollute the npm registry. It is crucial to remove this package from your project and monitor for any updates or patches. Utilizing tools like Vulert can enhance your ability to detect and respond to such vulnerabilities effectively.
See every vulnerability recorded for defeated_quail_z3n →
FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the publication of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and may compromise the security of your project by introducing malicious code.
You can use Vulert, which monitors open-source vulnerabilities in your software by analyzing the package-lock.json file. Visit Vulert Scanner to check your application without signup.
You should uninstall the 'defeated_quail_z3n' package immediately using the command: npm uninstall defeated_quail_z3n.
Yes, tools like Vulert can help monitor and alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities without requiring code access or installation.
