Malicious Code Injection in dependent_leech_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-93987: Malicious code in dependent_leech_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The dependent_leech_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that aims to inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages. Its functionality is compromised by the presence of malicious scripts that manipulate package metadata.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the dependent_leech_z3n package originates from its association with a malicious campaign targeting the npm registry. The package contains scripts that modify the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. This behavior leads to the pollution of the npm registry and can potentially compromise the integrity of applications relying on this package. The malicious payload is designed to continuously republish variants, making it difficult to track and mitigate the issue.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall dependent_leech_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 prevent the installation of the dependent_leech_z3n package by using npm's package-lock.json to lock your dependencies. Additionally, consider using the following command to audit your packages for vulnerabilities: npm audit.
Conclusion
The dependent_leech_z3n package poses a significant risk 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 for vulnerabilities to maintain the security of their applications.
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FAQ
The dependent_leech_z3n package is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to inflate developer reputation scores.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, potentially compromising the integrity and security of applications that depend on this package.
You should remove the dependent_leech_z3n package from your project and check for any updates or patches that may be available.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
