Malicious Code Injection in Genetic Stoat Z3N Package
Summary
MAL-2025-94669: Malicious code in genetic_stoat_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The genetic_stoat_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 publication of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. This package is particularly vulnerable due to its inclusion of autopublish scripts that manipulate package metadata.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the malicious design of the genetic_stoat_z3n package, which contains scripts that modify the package.json file to remove private flags and change version numbers. It generates random package names and continuously republishes variants, leading to pollution of the npm registry. This can result in developers unknowingly using compromised packages, potentially exposing their applications to further vulnerabilities.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall genetic_stoat_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 genetic_stoat_z3n package and monitor your project for any dependencies that may have been affected by it. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to monitor your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The genetic_stoat_z3n package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that modifies package metadata and repopulates the npm registry with compromised packages. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies to maintain the security of their applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for genetic_stoat_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 the use of compromised packages, which may introduce security risks and instability in your application.
You should uninstall the genetic_stoat_z3n package immediately and check for any other affected dependencies.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access or installation.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities in your application without any signup.
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