Malicious Code Injection in evident_bird_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-94318: Malicious code in evident_bird_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
The evident_bird_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 in exchange for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the evident_bird_z3n package, which includes scripts that modify the package.json file to remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially affecting other developers and users relying on legitimate packages. The malicious payload can compromise the security and reliability of applications that depend on this package.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall evident_bird_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, you can avoid using the evident_bird_z3n package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can monitor your project for any unintended dependencies that may include this package.
Conclusion
The evident_bird_z3n package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that modifies package metadata and repopulates the npm registry with potentially harmful variants. It is crucial to remove this package from your projects and monitor for any dependencies that may include it. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help maintain the security of your applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for evident_bird_z3n →
FAQ
The evident_bird_z3n package is an npm package that is part of a token reward campaign, which has been identified to contain malicious code.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file and can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, potentially affecting the integrity of your application.
You should uninstall the evident_bird_z3n package immediately and check for any dependencies that may rely on it.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities using just your package-lock.json file.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
