Malicious Code Injection in passive_goose_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-122450: Malicious code in passive_goose_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The passive_goose_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate automated publishing of derivative packages, which can lead to reputation inflation for developers involved in the tea protocol. However, it has been identified as containing malicious scripts that compromise its integrity and the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the passive_goose_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 intended to flood the npm registry with numerous variants, thereby polluting the ecosystem and potentially harming developers' reputations. The source of this vulnerability is linked to a campaign that exploits npm's publishing mechanisms for token rewards.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall passive_goose_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a workaround, you can temporarily avoid using the passive_goose_z3n package by removing it from your dependencies. Additionally, you can use the following command to uninstall the package: npm uninstall passive_goose_z3n.
Conclusion
The passive_goose_z3n package contains a significant vulnerability due to malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is crucial to remove this package from your project and monitor for any updates or patches. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help you stay informed about vulnerabilities in your dependencies.
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FAQ
The passive_goose_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the publishing of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, affecting the integrity of your project and potentially harming your developer reputation.
You should uninstall the passive_goose_z3n package immediately to mitigate any risks associated with its malicious code.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just your package-lock.json file. You can check your application for vulnerabilities without needing to install anything.
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