Malicious Code in multiple_parakeet_z3n: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-88457: Malicious code in multiple_parakeet_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'multiple_parakeet_z3n' is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to inflate developer reputation scores by automatically generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names. It poses a significant risk due to its malicious payload that alters package metadata.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the malicious code embedded within the 'multiple_parakeet_z3n' package. This code modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, changes version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the pollution of the npm registry. The autopublish scripts included in the package are designed to continuously republish variants, which can compromise the integrity of the npm ecosystem and affect developers relying on these packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall multiple_parakeet_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 avoid using the 'multiple_parakeet_z3n' package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can monitor your project using tools like Vulert to keep track of vulnerabilities in your dependencies.
Conclusion
The 'multiple_parakeet_z3n' package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and pollutes the npm registry. It is crucial to uninstall this package and monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to inflate developer reputation scores.
The malicious code modifies package metadata and can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, potentially affecting other packages and developers.
You should uninstall the package immediately using 'npm uninstall multiple_parakeet_z3n' and check for any dependencies that may rely on it.
Yes, you can use Vulert to monitor and alert for open-source vulnerabilities in your software without requiring access to the code or installation.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
