Malicious Code Injection in exceptional_manatee_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-102318: Malicious code in exceptional_manatee_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The exceptional_manatee_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, often utilized in JavaScript projects for various functionalities. However, it has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with harmful packages. This package is designed to manipulate developer reputation scores through the creation of derivative packages with randomized names, which can lead to significant pollution of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability stems from the package's involvement in a token reward campaign that exploits the npm registry. It contains scripts that automatically generate and publish derivative packages, modifying the package.json file to remove private flags and changing version numbers. This malicious behavior can lead to the proliferation of harmful packages, compromising the integrity of the npm ecosystem and potentially affecting applications that rely on these packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall exceptional_manatee_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 exceptional_manatee_z3n package and any other packages that may be associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. Regularly audit your dependencies to ensure that no malicious packages are included in your project.
Conclusion
The exceptional_manatee_z3n package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious behavior in the npm ecosystem. It is essential to remove this package and monitor your dependencies to maintain the integrity of your applications. Utilizing tools like Vulert can aid in identifying and managing vulnerabilities effectively.
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FAQ
It is an npm package identified as part of a malicious campaign that generates harmful derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the proliferation of malicious packages, potentially compromising your application's security and integrity.
You should uninstall the exceptional_manatee_z3n package immediately and check your package-lock.json file for any references to it.
Yes, you can use 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 without requiring any signup.
