Malicious Code Injection in odd_pelican_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-98845: Malicious code in odd_pelican_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The odd_pelican_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 modifies its own package.json file and repackages itself with random names, leading to potential pollution of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's involvement in a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with derivative packages. The malicious payload alters the package.json file by removing private flags, changing version numbers, and generating random package names. This behavior can lead to the proliferation of untrustworthy packages, compromising the integrity of the npm ecosystem and potentially affecting developers who rely on these packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall odd_pelican_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 odd_pelican_z3n package from your project to prevent any malicious activity. Use the following command: npm uninstall odd_pelican_z3n.
Conclusion
The odd_pelican_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that can compromise the integrity of the npm registry. It is crucial to take immediate action by uninstalling the package and monitoring your project for vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help maintain the security of your software.
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FAQ
odd_pelican_z3n is an npm package associated with a token reward campaign that has been identified as containing malicious code.
The vulnerability can lead to the automatic generation of untrustworthy packages, which may compromise your project's integrity and security.
You should uninstall the odd_pelican_z3n package immediately and check for any other affected packages in your project.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just package-lock.json. You can check your application for vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground without any signup.
Regularly update your dependencies, use tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities, and review the packages you include in your project.
