Malicious Code Injection in outer_bird_z3n Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-95804: Malicious code in outer_bird_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The outer_bird_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with malicious packages. These packages often contain scripts that automatically generate and publish derivative packages, compromising the integrity of the npm ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the outer_bird_z3n package arises from malicious code that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior is designed to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards, leading to pollution of the npm registry with potentially harmful packages. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which exploits the npm ecosystem for malicious purposes.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall outer_bird_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 outer_bird_z3n package from your project by executing the following command: npm uninstall outer_bird_z3n. This will prevent any potential exploitation of the vulnerability until a patch is available.
Conclusion
The outer_bird_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses a significant risk to projects using it. It is crucial to take immediate action by updating or uninstalling the package to safeguard your application from potential exploitation. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help monitor your projects for vulnerabilities effectively.
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FAQ
The outer_bird_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been identified as containing malicious code.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, removes private flags, and generates random package names, which can lead to reputation inflation and pollution of the npm registry.
You can use Vulert, a tool that monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. By using the Vulert playground, you can check if your application is affected without any signup.
If you cannot update the package, it is advisable to uninstall it temporarily to prevent any exploitation of the vulnerability.
More information can be found in the vulnerability report on the official GitHub repository or through security advisories related to npm packages.
