Malicious Code Injection in faint_tern_z3n: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-102497: Malicious code in faint_tern_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package faint_tern_z3n is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This campaign has been known to flood the npm registry with malicious packages that contain scripts designed to manipulate package metadata and inflate developer reputation scores. The primary functionality of such packages is to generate and publish derivative versions with altered names and metadata, posing a significant risk to developers and users relying on npm for package management.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in faint_tern_z3n originates from its design to include autopublish scripts that modify the package.json file by removing private flags, changing version numbers, and generating random package names. This malicious behavior leads to the continuous republishing of these variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially compromising the integrity of other packages. The ramifications include the risk of unintentional dependency on compromised packages and the degradation of the npm ecosystem's reliability.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall faint_tern_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 faint_tern_z3n package and check your package-lock.json file for any dependencies that may be affected. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to monitor your project for vulnerabilities in real-time.
Conclusion
The faint_tern_z3n package poses a significant risk to npm users due to its malicious code designed to manipulate package metadata. It is crucial to remove this package from your project and monitor for any vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert to ensure the integrity of your software.
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FAQ
faint_tern_z3n is an npm package that has been identified as malicious, designed to manipulate package metadata and inflate developer reputation scores.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, potentially compromising the integrity of your project's dependencies and exposing you to security risks.
You should uninstall the package immediately using the command: npm uninstall faint_tern_z3n, and check for any other affected packages.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for open-source vulnerabilities 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 any signup.
