Malicious Code Injection in oral_mandrill_z3n: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-122410: Malicious code in oral_mandrill_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 package 'oral_mandrill_z3n' is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This campaign has been known to flood the npm registry with malicious packages that contain scripts designed to manipulate package metadata and inflate developer reputation scores. The primary functionality of these packages is to automatically publish derivative versions with altered names and metadata, leading to potential abuse and pollution of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'oral_mandrill_z3n' originates from its association with malicious scripts that modify the package.json file. These scripts remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names, which can lead to the proliferation of unwanted packages in the npm registry. The ramifications include compromised developer reputations, potential security risks for applications relying on these packages, and a polluted npm ecosystem that makes it difficult to find legitimate packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall oral_mandrill_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 avoid using 'oral_mandrill_z3n' and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can use the following command to audit your npm packages for vulnerabilities: 'npm audit'.
Conclusion
The 'oral_mandrill_z3n' package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code designed to manipulate package metadata. It is essential to uninstall this package and monitor your projects for similar vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help maintain the security of your applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for oral_mandrill_z3n →
FAQ
'oral_mandrill_z3n' is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to manipulate package metadata and inflate developer reputation scores.
This vulnerability can lead to the introduction of unwanted packages, potential security risks, and a polluted npm registry, which can affect the integrity of your application.
You should uninstall 'oral_mandrill_z3n' immediately using 'npm uninstall oral_mandrill_z3n' and monitor your project for any other vulnerable packages.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just your package-lock.json file. You can also check your application for vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground.
To prevent future vulnerabilities, regularly audit your npm packages, keep them updated, and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor for any open-source vulnerabilities.
