Malicious Code Injection in nasty_wallaby_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-88757: Malicious code in nasty_wallaby_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 nasty_wallaby_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 are often used to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the nasty_wallaby_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 impacting other developers and users relying on legitimate packages. The source of this vulnerability has been traced back to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which employs such tactics to manipulate the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall nasty_wallaby_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 nasty_wallaby_z3n package by using the following command: npm uninstall nasty_wallaby_z3n. Additionally, ensure that your package-lock.json file is monitored for any unauthorized changes.
Conclusion
The nasty_wallaby_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises the npm ecosystem. It is crucial for developers to take immediate action by updating or removing the package to protect their projects from potential threats. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in monitoring and managing vulnerabilities effectively.
See every vulnerability recorded for nasty_wallaby_z3n →
FAQ
The nasty_wallaby_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, affecting the integrity of other packages and potentially compromising your project's dependencies.
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 no patched version is available, it is advisable to remove the package from your project to mitigate the risk associated with the vulnerability.
