Malicious Code Injection in hushed_skunk_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-103861: Malicious code in hushed_skunk_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The hushed_skunk_z3n package is part of a series of npm packages that have been associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to automate the generation and publication of derivative packages, often with randomized names, to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. This behavior raises significant concerns regarding the integrity and security of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the hushed_skunk_z3n package stems from its malicious code, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags and alters version numbers. It generates random package names, often themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants to pollute the npm registry. This not only compromises the security of the affected systems but also contributes to the degradation of the npm ecosystem by flooding it with potentially harmful packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall hushed_skunk_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 prevent the installation of the hushed_skunk_z3n package by using npm's package-lock.json file to lock down your dependencies. Ensure that your project does not include this package by auditing your dependencies and removing any references to it.
Conclusion
The hushed_skunk_z3n package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry with unwanted packages. It is essential to remove this package from your project and monitor your dependencies for any vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
The hushed_skunk_z3n package is an npm package linked to a token reward campaign that automates the creation and publication of derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, removes private flags, and can lead to the publication of unwanted packages, compromising your project's integrity.
You should uninstall the hushed_skunk_z3n package immediately using npm uninstall hushed_skunk_z3n and check your package-lock.json for any references.
Yes, you can use Vulert to monitor your project for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. It requires only your package-lock.json file.
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