Malicious Code Vulnerability in explicit_elephant_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-102402: Malicious code in explicit_elephant_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The explicit_elephant_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. It is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publishing of derivative packages. This package, like others in the campaign, is intended to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards, but it has been compromised to include malicious scripts.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the malicious code embedded within the explicit_elephant_z3n package. This code modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. The primary risk is that it can lead to the pollution of the npm registry with numerous derivative packages, potentially compromising the integrity of the ecosystem and affecting developers' reputations.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall explicit_elephant_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, you can prevent the installation of the explicit_elephant_z3n package by using the following command: npm uninstall explicit_elephant_z3n. Additionally, you can monitor your project for vulnerabilities using Vulert, which utilizes package-lock.json to alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The explicit_elephant_z3n package contains malicious code that poses a significant risk to developers and the npm ecosystem. It is essential to take immediate action by updating or removing the package and utilizing tools like Vulert for ongoing monitoring.
See every vulnerability recorded for explicit_elephant_z3n →
FAQ
The explicit_elephant_z3n package is part of a campaign that aims to inflate developer reputation scores in the npm ecosystem by automatically generating and publishing derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, potentially leading to the pollution of the npm registry and impacting your project's integrity and reputation.
You should update the package to a patched version if available or uninstall it entirely to mitigate the risk.
Yes, Vulert can monitor your project for vulnerabilities using package-lock.json and alert you in real-time without requiring code access or 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.
