Malicious Code Injection in illegal_wildfowl_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-94926: Malicious code in illegal_wildfowl_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The illegal_wildfowl_z3n package is part of a series of npm packages that emerged during the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to manipulate the npm registry by creating and publishing numerous derivative packages with randomized names. This behavior is intended to inflate developer reputation scores for rewards associated with the tea protocol. The package's functionality is compromised due to its malicious intent, which poses risks to developers and the integrity of the npm ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the illegal_wildfowl_z3n package originates from its design to include autopublish scripts that modify the package.json file. These modifications remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of variants. This behavior can pollute the npm registry, making it difficult for developers to find legitimate packages and potentially exposing them to further security risks.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall illegal_wildfowl_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_wildfowl_z3n package and any other packages associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. Regularly audit your dependencies using tools like npm audit to identify and address vulnerabilities in your project.
Conclusion
The illegal_wildfowl_z3n package poses a significant threat due to its malicious code that modifies package metadata and floods the npm registry with derivative packages. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies to maintain the integrity of their projects.
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FAQ
The illegal_wildfowl_z3n package is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign to inflate developer reputation scores through the creation of numerous derivative packages.
This vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, making it harder to find legitimate packages and potentially exposing your project to further security risks.
You should uninstall the illegal_wildfowl_z3n package immediately and check your package-lock.json file for any remnants of it.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just the package-lock.json file.
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.
