Malicious Code Injection in main_barnacle_z3n Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-95354: Malicious code in main_barnacle_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The main_barnacle_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially harming developers' reputations and the integrity of the ecosystem. The malicious scripts are designed to exploit the npm infrastructure for nefarious purposes.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall main_barnacle_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, you can avoid using the main_barnacle_z3n package and any other packages associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. Regularly audit your dependencies to ensure that no malicious packages are included.
Conclusion
The main_barnacle_z3n package contains malicious code that compromises the npm registry and can affect developers' reputations. It is crucial to remove this package from your project and monitor your dependencies for any malicious activity. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help you stay informed about vulnerabilities in your open-source software.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automatically generate and publish derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json, removes private flags, and can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, affecting your project's integrity.
You should uninstall the main_barnacle_z3n package immediately using the command npm uninstall main_barnacle_z3n.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. You can check your application using the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner.
Currently, there is no patched version available. The best course of action is to remove the affected package from your project.
