Malicious Code Injection in pleasant_bison_z3n: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-95914: Malicious code in pleasant_bison_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
pleasant_bison_z3n is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign targeting the npm registry. This package, like many others in the campaign, is designed to manipulate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages. The malicious nature of this package compromises the integrity of the npm ecosystem, making it crucial for developers to be aware of its implications.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in pleasant_bison_z3n originates from its association with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package contains scripts that automatically modify the package.json file to remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names. The continuous republishing of these variants leads to pollution of the npm registry, potentially affecting other packages and developers relying on the integrity of the ecosystem. The malicious payload can also lead to unauthorized access and manipulation of projects that depend on this package.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall pleasant_bison_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 prevent the installation of the malicious package by using npm's package-lock.json to monitor your dependencies. Ensure that you do not install any packages that are not explicitly listed in your package.json file. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in your dependencies.
Conclusion
The pleasant_bison_z3n package poses a significant threat to the npm ecosystem due to its malicious code designed to manipulate package integrity. Developers must take immediate action to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can aid in maintaining the security of your projects.
See every vulnerability recorded for pleasant_bison_z3n →
FAQ
pleasant_bison_z3n is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign aimed at manipulating developer reputation scores.
The vulnerability can lead to unauthorized modifications in your project's dependencies, potentially compromising the security and integrity of your application.
You should uninstall the package immediately using 'npm uninstall pleasant_bison_z3n' and check for any dependencies that may rely on it.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time, alerting you to any issues.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
Habilume
Habit tracker with a companion that grows with you
Complete habits, earn Lume Points, and watch your Lume grow as you stay consistent.
