Malicious Code Injection in effective_ostrich_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-94186: Malicious code in effective_ostrich_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The effective_ostrich_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 integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the inclusion of malicious code within the effective_ostrich_z3n package. This code modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names, which leads to the continuous republishing of these variants. The ramifications include pollution of the npm registry and potential exploitation of developers' reputations, as well as the risk of introducing further vulnerabilities into dependent projects.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall effective_ostrich_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 effective_ostrich_z3n package by using the following command: npm uninstall effective_ostrich_z3n. Additionally, you can monitor your project for vulnerabilities using Vulert, which allows you to check your package-lock.json for any open-source vulnerabilities in real-time.
Conclusion
The effective_ostrich_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses significant risks to developers and the npm ecosystem. It is essential to take immediate action by updating or removing the package to safeguard your projects.
See every vulnerability recorded for effective_ostrich_z3n →
FAQ
The effective_ostrich_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the publication of derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, potentially leading to the pollution of the npm registry and compromising the integrity of your project.
If you have installed the effective_ostrich_z3n package, it is crucial to update it to a patched version or uninstall it to mitigate the risk.
Yes, Vulert can monitor your package-lock.json file for open-source vulnerabilities, including those related to the effective_ostrich_z3n package, without requiring any installation.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
