Malicious Code Injection in external_jackal_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-98710: Malicious code in external_jackal_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The external_jackal_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 for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the external_jackal_z3n package stems from its malicious payload that modifies the package.json file. It removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, contributing to the pollution of the npm registry. This behavior can lead to security risks, including the potential for developers to unknowingly use compromised packages, which may contain further vulnerabilities or malicious code.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall external_jackal_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 external_jackal_z3n package from your project by executing the following command: npm uninstall external_jackal_z3n. This will prevent any malicious code from executing in your application.
Conclusion
The external_jackal_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses significant risks to developers and the npm ecosystem. It is crucial to take immediate action by updating or removing the package to safeguard your applications from potential exploitation.
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FAQ
The external_jackal_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The vulnerability allows the package to modify package.json files, remove private flags, and generate random package names, leading to npm registry pollution.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. Visit Vulert Scanner to check your application without requiring signup.
If no patched version is available, it is advisable to uninstall the package to mitigate the risk of malicious code execution.
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