Malicious Code Injection in hostile_pike_z3n Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-103804: Malicious code in hostile_pike_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The hostile_pike_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the hostile_pike_z3n package originates from its malicious payload that modifies the package.json file. It removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of these variants. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages, potentially leading to security breaches in their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall hostile_pike_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 hostile_pike_z3n package from your project by executing 'npm uninstall hostile_pike_z3n'. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to monitor your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities without requiring code access or installation.
Conclusion
The hostile_pike_z3n package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and repopulates the npm registry with compromised packages. It is crucial for developers to take immediate action by updating or removing the package and utilizing tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
The hostile_pike_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the generation and publication of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the introduction of malicious code into your application, potentially compromising its security and integrity.
If you have used the hostile_pike_z3n package, you should uninstall it immediately and check for any other affected packages in your project.
Yes, Vulert can monitor your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities in real-time, alerting you to any issues without requiring code access or installation.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
