Malicious Code Injection in Desirable Chinchilla Z3N Package
Summary
MAL-2025-93994: Malicious code in desirable_chinchilla_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
Desirable Chinchilla Z3N is an npm package that is part of the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate token rewards for developers by automatically generating and publishing derivative packages. However, it has been compromised to include malicious scripts that manipulate package metadata and flood the npm registry with unwanted packages.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's involvement in a token reward scheme that utilizes autopublish scripts. These scripts are designed to modify the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. This behavior not only compromises the integrity of the package but also pollutes the npm registry, potentially affecting other developers and users relying on npm for package management.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall desirable_chinchilla_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, you can avoid using the compromised package by removing it from your dependencies and replacing it with a trusted alternative. Ensure that you regularly audit your package dependencies for vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The desirable_chinchilla_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that can compromise your application and pollute the npm registry. It is crucial to remove this package and monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of your software.
See every vulnerability recorded for desirable_chinchilla_z3n →
FAQ
The package contains malicious code that modifies package metadata and floods the npm registry with unwanted packages.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. Visit Vulert Scanner to check your application without needing to sign up.
You should uninstall the package immediately using 'npm uninstall desirable_chinchilla_z3n' and check for any other affected packages.
While specific alternatives depend on your use case, consider researching other npm packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Regularly audit your dependencies using tools like Vulert, and keep your packages updated to the latest secure versions.
