Malicious Code Exploit in literary_grasshopper_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-95276: Malicious code in literary_grasshopper_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The literary_grasshopper_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate various functionalities within the npm registry, but it has been compromised, leading to significant security concerns. The vulnerability stems from the package's involvement in generating and publishing derivative packages, which can negatively impact the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the literary_grasshopper_z3n package is characterized by the presence of malicious code that modifies the package.json file. This code removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the automatic publication of numerous derivatives. The origin of this issue is linked to a campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores for token rewards, which poses a risk of registry pollution and potential exploitation of unsuspecting developers.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall literary_grasshopper_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 remove the literary_grasshopper_z3n package from your project by executing the command: npm uninstall literary_grasshopper_z3n. This will prevent any malicious code from executing while you seek a secure alternative.
Conclusion
The literary_grasshopper_z3n package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and publishes unauthorized derivatives. It is crucial to take immediate action by updating or removing the package to safeguard your project from potential exploitation.
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FAQ
It is an npm package that has been compromised to include malicious code aimed at manipulating the npm registry.
The vulnerability can lead to the automatic publication of malicious packages, which may compromise your project's integrity and security.
You should uninstall the package immediately and check for any updates or patches that may be available.
Yes, Vulert can monitor your project for open-source vulnerabilities using just the package-lock.json file, providing real-time alerts.
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