Malicious Code Injection in mute_clownfish_z3n Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-95566: Malicious code in mute_clownfish_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The mute_clownfish_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate token rewards through various scripts that automatically publish derivative packages. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and the security 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 is intended to inflate developer reputation scores and pollute the npm registry with numerous derivative packages. The ramifications include potential security risks for developers using the package, as well as the degradation of the npm ecosystem due to the proliferation of these malicious packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall mute_clownfish_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 mute_clownfish_z3n package from your project by executing: npm uninstall mute_clownfish_z3n. This will prevent any malicious code from executing until a secure version is available.
Conclusion
The mute_clownfish_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses a significant risk to developers and the npm ecosystem. It is crucial to take immediate action by updating or uninstalling the package to safeguard your applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for mute_clownfish_z3n →
FAQ
The mute_clownfish_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to publish derivative packages for token rewards.
The vulnerability can lead to the injection of malicious code into your application, potentially compromising its security and integrity.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software by analyzing your package-lock.json file.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
If you cannot update the package, it is advisable to uninstall it to mitigate the risk of malicious code execution until a secure version is released.
