Malicious Code Injection in native_leopard_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-106200: Malicious code in native_leopard_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The native_leopard_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 intended to inflate developer reputation scores for rewards. However, it has been compromised to include malicious scripts that alter its functionality.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package being part of a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with derivative packages. The malicious payload modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, changing version numbers, and generating random package names. This leads to the continuous republishing of these variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially compromising the integrity of applications that depend on this package.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall native_leopard_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 native_leopard_z3n package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can monitor your package-lock.json file using tools like Vulert to detect vulnerabilities in real-time.
Conclusion
The native_leopard_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises the integrity of the npm ecosystem. It is crucial for developers to remove this package from their projects and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in real-time. Staying informed and proactive can help safeguard applications against such threats.
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FAQ
The native_leopard_z3n package is an npm package that is part of a token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages automatically.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, which may compromise the integrity of your application if it relies on affected packages.
You should remove the native_leopard_z3n package from your project immediately and monitor for any updates or patches.
Yes, you can use Vulert's playground to check your application for vulnerabilities without needing to sign up. Simply upload your package-lock.json file.
Regularly monitor your dependencies using tools like Vulert, and keep your packages updated to the latest versions to mitigate potential risks.
