Malicious Code Injection in physical_vicuna_z3n Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-95899: Malicious code in physical_vicuna_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The physical_vicuna_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 generation and publication of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and the security of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the malicious intent behind the physical_vicuna_z3n package, which includes scripts that automatically modify the package.json file. These modifications remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names, leading to the pollution of the npm registry. This can result in a loss of trust in the affected packages and potential exploitation of developers who unknowingly use these compromised packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall physical_vicuna_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 physical_vicuna_z3n package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Always verify the integrity of packages before installation.
Conclusion
The physical_vicuna_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses a significant risk to developers and the npm ecosystem. It is crucial to remove this package from your projects and monitor for any updates or patches. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help maintain the security of your applications.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and compromise the integrity of your project's dependencies.
You should uninstall the physical_vicuna_z3n package immediately and check for any other affected packages in your project.
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 use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without needing to sign up.
