Malicious Code Injection in grumpy_fish_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-94774: Malicious code in grumpy_fish_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The grumpy_fish_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that aims to exploit the npm registry by flooding it with derivative packages. The primary functionality of this package is to serve as a token reward mechanism, but it has been compromised to include harmful scripts that manipulate package metadata.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the grumpy_fish_z3n package originates from its association with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. It contains malicious scripts that automatically modify the package.json file, removing private flags, changing version numbers, and generating random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially harming developers' reputations and project integrity.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall grumpy_fish_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 grumpy_fish_z3n package from your project by executing: npm uninstall grumpy_fish_z3n. This will prevent any malicious code from executing until a secure version is available.
Conclusion
The grumpy_fish_z3n package has been compromised with malicious code that can adversely affect the npm registry and developers' projects. It is crucial to take immediate action by updating or removing the package and utilizing tools like Vulert for ongoing vulnerability monitoring.
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FAQ
The grumpy_fish_z3n package is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign targeting the npm registry.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, potentially harming your project's integrity and reputation.
You should uninstall the package immediately and monitor for any updates or patches that may be released.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
