Malicious Code Vulnerability in growing_hawk_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-94764: Malicious code in growing_hawk_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The growing_hawk_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. However, this package has been compromised, leading to significant security concerns.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the malicious code embedded within the growing_hawk_z3n package. This code modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, which can lead to the pollution of the npm registry. The malicious payload is designed to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards, posing a risk to developers and users relying on the integrity of npm packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall growing_hawk_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 avoid using the growing_hawk_z3n package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The growing_hawk_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses a significant risk to developers and users. It is crucial to uninstall this package and monitor your applications for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert.
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FAQ
The growing_hawk_z3n package is an npm package involved in the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been compromised to include malicious code.
The malicious code can modify your package.json file, remove private flags, and publish random packages, potentially leading to security vulnerabilities and reputation damage.
You should uninstall the growing_hawk_z3n package immediately and check for any alternative packages that can fulfill your needs.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software by analyzing your package-lock.json file. You can also check your application against known vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
