Malicious Code Injection in outstanding_moose_z3n: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-98859: Malicious code in outstanding_moose_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package outstanding_moose_z3n is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that aims to exploit npm's publishing system. It is designed to automatically generate and publish derivative packages with randomized names, which can lead to reputation inflation for the tea protocol token rewards. The presence of such malicious packages poses a significant risk to developers and users relying on npm for secure package management.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in outstanding_moose_z3n originates from its involvement in the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package contains scripts that modify the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. The malicious payload continuously republishes these variants to pollute the npm registry, which can lead to confusion, misuse, and potential security risks for developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall outstanding_moose_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 outstanding_moose_z3n package and monitor your project for any dependencies that may inadvertently include it. Regularly check your package-lock.json file for any suspicious entries.
Conclusion
The outstanding_moose_z3n package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code designed to exploit the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package from their projects and remain vigilant about the packages they use. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in monitoring and alerting for open-source vulnerabilities effectively.
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FAQ
outstanding_moose_z3n is an npm package identified as part of a malicious campaign that exploits the npm registry.
The vulnerability can lead to the introduction of malicious code, which may compromise your project's security and integrity.
You can use Vulert's playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
If you have installed outstanding_moose_z3n, you should uninstall it immediately using 'npm uninstall outstanding_moose_z3n' and review your dependencies.
Regularly update your dependencies, use trusted packages, and monitor your project with tools like Vulert to stay informed about vulnerabilities.
