Malicious Code Injection in illegal_hornet_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-94922: Malicious code in illegal_hornet_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The illegal_hornet_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 its integrity and the security of applications that depend on it.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the illegal_hornet_z3n package arises from malicious code that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially affecting other packages and applications. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which employs autopublish scripts to automate these malicious activities.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall illegal_hornet_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 illegal_hornet_z3n package and replace it with a trusted alternative. If you need to maintain functionality, consider using a different package that provides similar features without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The illegal_hornet_z3n package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and pollutes the npm registry. It is crucial to uninstall this package and replace it with a trusted alternative to safeguard your application. Regular monitoring for vulnerabilities is recommended.
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FAQ
The illegal_hornet_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the publication of derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, removes private flags, and generates random package names, which can lead to security vulnerabilities and pollution of the npm registry.
If you have installed the illegal_hornet_z3n package, you should uninstall it immediately using the command npm uninstall illegal_hornet_z3n.
Yes, you should look for trusted alternatives that provide similar functionality without the associated risks of malicious code.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities using just your package-lock.json file. You can check your application for vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground without signing up.
