Malicious Code Injection in eager_owl_z3n Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-94156: Malicious code in eager_owl_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The eager_owl_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 scripts that compromise its integrity and the security of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the eager_owl_z3n package originates from its inclusion in a campaign that floods the npm registry with malicious packages. These packages contain 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 harm developers by misrepresenting their packages and inflating reputation scores fraudulently.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall eager_owl_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 avoid using the eager_owl_z3n package altogether. If it is already included in your project, remove it by running: npm uninstall eager_owl_z3n. Additionally, consider using Vulert to monitor your project for vulnerabilities. You can check if your application is affected by this vulnerability using the Vulert playground at https://vulert.com/scanner without any signup.
Conclusion
The eager_owl_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises the integrity of the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package from their projects and monitor for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert to ensure the security of their applications.
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FAQ
The eager_owl_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and is involved in the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which aims to inflate developer reputation scores.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and may misrepresent your project's integrity, potentially harming your reputation as a developer.
If you have installed the eager_owl_z3n package, it is advisable to uninstall it immediately using the command: npm uninstall eager_owl_z3n.
Currently, there is no specific patch version available for the eager_owl_z3n package. It is best to remove the package until a safe version is released.
You can use Vulert to monitor your project for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. Visit https://vulert.com to learn more and check your application.
