Malicious Code Injection in ordinary_owl_z3n: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-98852: Malicious code in ordinary_owl_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
ordinary_owl_z3n is an npm package that is part of the tea.xyz token reward campaign. It is designed to facilitate the distribution of software packages within the npm ecosystem. However, this package has been identified as malicious, containing scripts that manipulate package metadata and publish derivative packages to inflate developer reputation scores. This behavior poses a significant risk to developers and users relying on npm for secure package management.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in ordinary_owl_z3n originates from its inclusion in a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with derivative packages. The malicious payload modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. This not only pollutes the npm registry but also compromises the integrity of the packages, potentially leading to security breaches and loss of trust in the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall ordinary_owl_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 ordinary_owl_z3n package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to monitor your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The ordinary_owl_z3n package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code injection capabilities. It is essential for developers to be aware of this vulnerability and take immediate action to remove the affected package from their projects. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in monitoring for such vulnerabilities in real-time.
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FAQ
ordinary_owl_z3n is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been identified as malicious.
The vulnerability can lead to the injection of malicious code, compromising the integrity of your project and potentially exposing it to security risks.
You should immediately uninstall the ordinary_owl_z3n package and check for any dependencies that may be affected.
Yes, Vulert allows you to monitor your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access or installation.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without signing up.
