Malicious Code Injection in evolutionary_llama_z3n Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-102297: Malicious code in evolutionary_llama_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The evolutionary_llama_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 known to flood the npm registry with malicious packages. The primary function of this package is to provide developers with tools or libraries, but it has been compromised to include harmful scripts that manipulate package metadata.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the malicious code embedded in the evolutionary_llama_z3n package. This code is designed to automatically modify the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. The malicious payload continuously republishes these variants to the npm registry, leading to pollution of the registry and potential exploitation by attackers. This can result in compromised developer reputations and the spread of further malicious packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall evolutionary_llama_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 evolutionary_llama_z3n package altogether and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The evolutionary_llama_z3n package has been identified as a source of malicious code that can compromise your project. It is crucial to remove this package and monitor your dependencies regularly to ensure the security of your applications. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in identifying vulnerabilities in real-time.
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FAQ
It is an npm package that has been compromised to include malicious code aimed at manipulating package metadata and inflating developer reputation scores.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. By checking your package-lock.json file, you can identify if your application is affected by this vulnerability.
Using compromised packages can lead to security vulnerabilities, unauthorized access to your application, and damage to your reputation as a developer.
Regularly audit your dependencies using tools like Vulert and keep your packages updated to minimize the risk of vulnerabilities.
Immediately uninstall the evolutionary_llama_z3n package and check your project for any unauthorized changes. Consider using alternative packages.
