Malicious Code Injection in mixed_walrus_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-95516: Malicious code in mixed_walrus_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 mixed_walrus_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, often with randomized names, to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. The package's functionality, while initially appearing benign, is compromised by its malicious intent to manipulate the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the mixed_walrus_z3n package stems from its 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 affecting other developers by inflating reputation scores fraudulently. The origin of this issue is linked to the broader trend of malicious packages flooding the npm ecosystem, specifically targeting token reward systems.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall mixed_walrus_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 temporary workaround, you can prevent the installation of the mixed_walrus_z3n package by using npm's package-lock.json to monitor your dependencies. Ensure that your project does not include this package in any of its dependencies.
Conclusion
The mixed_walrus_z3n package presents a significant vulnerability due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies to maintain the integrity of their projects.
See every vulnerability recorded for mixed_walrus_z3n →
FAQ
The mixed_walrus_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and may affect your project's integrity by introducing malicious code and altering your package.json file.
You should uninstall the mixed_walrus_z3n package immediately and check your project for any dependencies that may rely on it.
Yes, you can use Vulert to monitor and alert in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. You can check your application against known vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground without any signup.
Regularly audit your dependencies, use tools like Vulert to monitor vulnerabilities, and stay informed about the latest security advisories in the npm ecosystem.
