Malicious Code Vulnerability in nervous_pinniped_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-88770: Malicious code in nervous_pinniped_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The nervous_pinniped_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 can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. 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 leads to the continuous republishing of variants that pollute the npm registry, potentially affecting other developers and users relying on legitimate packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall nervous_pinniped_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a workaround, consider using alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can monitor your project for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert, which can analyze your package-lock.json file for any open-source vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The nervous_pinniped_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses a significant risk to developers and users within the npm ecosystem. It is crucial to remove this package and monitor your projects for vulnerabilities to maintain security and integrity.
See every vulnerability recorded for nervous_pinniped_z3n →
FAQ
The nervous_pinniped_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and is involved in the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which aims to inflate developer reputation scores.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and may compromise the integrity of your project by introducing malicious code.
You should uninstall the package immediately and check for any dependencies that may rely on it. Consider using alternative packages.
You can use Vulert, which allows you to monitor and alert for open-source vulnerabilities in your software by analyzing your package-lock.json file.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
