Malicious Code Injection in lexical_zebra_dumbs: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-105105: Malicious code in lexical_zebra_dumbs (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'lexical_zebra_dumbs' is part of a series of npm packages that emerged during the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to inflate developer reputation scores by automatically generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names. The malicious nature of this package lies in its ability to manipulate the package.json file, removing private flags and altering version numbers, which can lead to significant security risks in the npm ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'lexical_zebra_dumbs' originates from its association with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with malicious packages. The malicious payload modifies the package.json file, removing private flags and changing version numbers, allowing unauthorized access and potential exploitation of the package. This can lead to the pollution of the npm registry with variants that could compromise other packages and applications relying on them.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall lexical_zebra_dumbsIf 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 this package by using the following command to uninstall it: npm uninstall lexical_zebra_dumbs. Additionally, consider using npm audit to check for vulnerabilities in your project.
Conclusion
The 'lexical_zebra_dumbs' package poses a significant threat to the npm ecosystem due to its malicious code designed to manipulate package metadata. Users are urged to remove this package and monitor their applications for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert.
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FAQ
'lexical_zebra_dumbs' is an npm package that has been identified as malicious, designed to inflate developer reputation scores through automated publishing of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to unauthorized modifications in your package.json file, potentially allowing malicious code to be executed within your application.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. Visit Vulert Scanner to check your application without any signup.
If you have installed 'lexical_zebra_dumbs', it is crucial to uninstall it immediately using the command: npm uninstall lexical_zebra_dumbs.
Currently, there is no specific patched version available for 'lexical_zebra_dumbs'. It is advisable to remove the package and monitor for updates.
