Malicious Code Exploit in Nervous Buzzard Z3N Package
Summary
MAL-2025-106264: Malicious code in nervous_buzzard_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The 'nervous_buzzard_z3n' package is part of the npm ecosystem, often utilized in JavaScript applications. It is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with packages that contain malicious scripts. These scripts are designed to inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publishing of derivative packages.
Vulnerability Detail
This vulnerability originates from the malicious intent behind the 'nervous_buzzard_z3n' package, which includes autopublish scripts that modify the package.json file. The scripts remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names, leading to pollution of the npm registry. This can result in compromised applications, as the malicious payload can introduce untrusted code into projects that depend on this package.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall nervous_buzzard_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a workaround, you can manually check your package-lock.json file for any references to 'nervous_buzzard_z3n' and remove them. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to monitor your project for vulnerabilities. You can check if your application is affected by this vulnerability using the Vulert playground at https://vulert.com/scanner without any signup.
Conclusion
The 'nervous_buzzard_z3n' package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code designed to manipulate npm registry entries. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their projects for similar vulnerabilities to maintain application security.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, known for containing malicious scripts.
It can introduce untrusted code into your application, potentially compromising its security and integrity.
You should uninstall the package immediately and check your project for any related vulnerabilities.
It is advisable to be cautious and review the source and contents of any package before using it, especially if it is part of a known malicious campaign.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file for vulnerabilities in real-time.
