Malicious Code Exploit in Functional Dolphin Z3N Package
Summary
MAL-2025-94632: Malicious code in functional_dolphin_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
Functional Dolphin Z3N is an npm package that is part of the tea.xyz token reward campaign. It is designed to facilitate token rewards for developers by generating and publishing derivative packages. However, this package has been compromised, leading to significant security concerns due to its malicious functionalities.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package being part of a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with fake packages. It contains scripts that modify the package.json file to remove private flags, change version numbers, and generate random package names. This results in the continuous republishing of variants, which can pollute the npm registry and inflate developer reputation scores fraudulently. The malicious payload can lead to unauthorized access and manipulation of the package ecosystem, posing a risk to developers and users relying on these packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall functional_dolphin_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, avoid using the functional_dolphin_z3n package until a secure version is released. Regularly monitor your dependencies and consider using tools like Vulert to track vulnerabilities in your project.
Conclusion
The functional_dolphin_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that can compromise the integrity of your project. It is crucial to uninstall this package and monitor your dependencies closely. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help you stay ahead of potential vulnerabilities.
See every vulnerability recorded for functional_dolphin_z3n →
FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to unauthorized modifications in your package.json file, potentially compromising your project and its dependencies.
You should uninstall the functional_dolphin_z3n package immediately and monitor your project for any unusual activity.
Yes, Vulert allows you to monitor and alert for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just the package-lock.json file.
Regularly audit your dependencies and use tools like Vulert to stay informed about vulnerabilities in your packages.
