Malicious Code Injection in living_loon_z3n: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-105286: Malicious code in living_loon_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
The living_loon_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with malicious packages. These packages often contain scripts designed to manipulate package metadata and inflate developer reputation scores, posing a significant risk to the integrity of the npm ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in living_loon_z3n stems from its malicious code that modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. This behavior is designed to create and publish numerous derivative packages, polluting the npm registry and potentially leading to reputation damage for legitimate developers. The malicious payload is part of a broader scheme to exploit the npm ecosystem for token rewards, making it a serious concern for developers relying on this package.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall living_loon_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →
Workaround
As a workaround, you can manually check your package.json file for any unauthorized changes and revert them. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to monitor your project for vulnerabilities. You can check if your application is affected by this vulnerability using the Vulert playground at https://vulert.com/scanner without any signup.
Conclusion
The living_loon_z3n package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry with unauthorized packages. Developers are urged to remove this package and utilize monitoring tools like Vulert to safeguard their projects against similar vulnerabilities.
See every vulnerability recorded for living_loon_z3n →
FAQ
living_loon_z3n is an npm package that has been identified as malicious, associated with a token reward campaign that floods the npm registry.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, potentially leading to unauthorized changes and the publication of derivative packages that can harm your project's reputation.
You should remove the living_loon_z3n package from your project immediately and monitor your package.json for any unauthorized changes.
Regularly audit your dependencies and use tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in real-time.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities in your application without any signup.
