Malicious Code Injection in poor_viper_z3n: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-107142: Malicious code in poor_viper_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package poor_viper_z3n is part of a series of npm packages that emerged during the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to manipulate the npm registry by generating and publishing numerous derivative packages with random names. This behavior is intended to inflate developer reputation scores for rewards associated with the tea protocol.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in poor_viper_z3n arises from its malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This results in the continuous republishing of variants that pollute the npm registry. The origin of this issue is linked to the broader campaign that exploits npm's publishing mechanisms, posing risks such as reputation damage for developers and potential security threats for users of these packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall poor_viper_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, you can prevent the installation of this malicious package by using npm's package-lock.json to monitor dependencies. You can also utilize the following command to uninstall the package: npm uninstall poor_viper_z3n.
Conclusion
The poor_viper_z3n package poses a significant threat to the npm ecosystem due to its malicious behavior of modifying package metadata and republishing harmful variants. It is essential for developers to be vigilant and remove such packages to maintain the integrity of their projects.
See every vulnerability recorded for poor_viper_z3n →
FAQ
poor_viper_z3n is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores through the creation of numerous derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, potentially compromising the integrity of your project and affecting its dependencies.
If you have installed poor_viper_z3n, it is crucial to uninstall it immediately and monitor your project for any further vulnerabilities.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors and alerts you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities using just package-lock.json. You can also check your application using the Vulert playground without any signup.
Currently, there is no specific patched version available for poor_viper_z3n. It is advisable to remove the package and monitor for updates.
