Malicious Code Injection in peaceful_bug_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-95869: Malicious code in peaceful_bug_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The peaceful_bug_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, often with randomized names. It aims to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards, making it a target for malicious actors looking to exploit npm's package management system.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the peaceful_bug_z3n package stems from its malicious code, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags and alters version numbers. It generates random package names, primarily themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants to pollute the npm registry. This behavior can lead to a significant compromise of the npm ecosystem, affecting developers who rely on the integrity of packages for their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall peaceful_bug_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 peaceful_bug_z3n package and any packages that depend on it. Monitor your package-lock.json file for any unexpected changes or additions that may indicate the presence of malicious packages.
Conclusion
The peaceful_bug_z3n package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and repopulates the npm registry with potentially harmful variants. It is essential to remove this package and monitor your dependencies regularly to maintain the security of your applications.
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FAQ
The peaceful_bug_z3n package is an npm package associated with a token reward campaign that generates and publishes derivative packages to inflate developer reputation scores.
The vulnerability can compromise the integrity of your application by introducing malicious code that modifies your package.json file and republishing variants that could lead to further exploitation.
You can use Vulert, which 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 have installed the peaceful_bug_z3n package, you should uninstall it immediately using 'npm uninstall peaceful_bug_z3n' and review your other dependencies for any potential vulnerabilities.
Yes, tools like Vulert can help monitor your project's dependencies for vulnerabilities by analyzing your package-lock.json file.
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