Malicious Code Injection in elderly_fish_z3n Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-94197: Malicious code in elderly_fish_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The elderly_fish_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been linked to numerous malicious packages designed to inflate developer reputation scores. The package's functionality is compromised by the presence of malicious scripts that manipulate its metadata and behavior.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in elderly_fish_z3n originates from its association with a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with derivative packages. The malicious payload modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages, leading to potential security breaches in their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall elderly_fish_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 remove the elderly_fish_z3n package from your project by executing the following command: npm uninstall elderly_fish_z3n. This will prevent any malicious code from executing in your application.
Conclusion
The elderly_fish_z3n package has been identified as a vector for malicious code injection, posing significant risks to developers and their applications. Immediate action is required to update or remove the package to ensure the security of your projects.
See every vulnerability recorded for elderly_fish_z3n →
FAQ
elderly_fish_z3n is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to inflate developer reputation scores through the creation of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the introduction of malicious code into your application, potentially compromising its security and integrity.
You should immediately update or uninstall the elderly_fish_z3n package to mitigate any risks associated with the vulnerability.
Yes, you can use tools like Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just package-lock.json.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
