Malicious Code Injection in inquisitive_duck_z3n: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-104243: Malicious code in inquisitive_duck_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package inquisitive_duck_z3n is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to automate the generation and publication of derivative packages, often with randomized names, to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. Its functionality is compromised due to the presence of malicious scripts that manipulate package metadata.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in inquisitive_duck_z3n arises from malicious code embedded within the package. This code modifies the package.json file to remove 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 and loss of trust in the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall inquisitive_duck_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 inquisitive_duck_z3n and any packages that depend on it. Regularly audit your npm packages using the command npm audit to identify and address vulnerabilities in your project.
Conclusion
The inquisitive_duck_z3n package poses a significant threat due to its embedded malicious code, which can compromise the integrity of your npm projects. It is crucial to remove this package and regularly audit your dependencies to maintain a secure development environment.
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FAQ
inquisitive_duck_z3n is an npm package that is part of a token reward campaign, which has been found to contain malicious code.
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.
You can use Vulert to monitor and alert for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. Visit Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without needing to sign up.
If you have installed inquisitive_duck_z3n, you should uninstall it immediately using npm uninstall inquisitive_duck_z3n and audit your project for other vulnerabilities.
Yes, tools like Vulert can help you monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities in real-time using just your package-lock.json file.
