Malicious Code Injection in plastic_chipmunk_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-107102: Malicious code in plastic_chipmunk_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The plastic_chipmunk_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, 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 code embedded within the plastic_chipmunk_z3n package. This code modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names, which leads to the continuous republishing of variants. The ramifications include pollution of the npm registry, potential security risks for developers using these packages, and a compromised reputation for the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall plastic_chipmunk_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 plastic_chipmunk_z3n package by removing it from your dependencies. You can do this by running the command: npm uninstall plastic_chipmunk_z3n.
Conclusion
The plastic_chipmunk_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses significant risks to developers and the npm ecosystem. It is essential to remove this package and monitor your project for vulnerabilities to maintain security.
See every vulnerability recorded for plastic_chipmunk_z3n →
FAQ
The plastic_chipmunk_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the publication of derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, potentially exposing your project to security risks and polluting the npm registry.
If you have installed the plastic_chipmunk_z3n package, it is crucial to uninstall it immediately to mitigate any security risks.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities using just your package-lock.json file. You can check your application for vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground without any signup.
Regularly update your dependencies and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in your project's dependencies.
