Malicious Code Injection in possible_kangaroo_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-107160: Malicious code in possible_kangaroo_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The possible_kangaroo_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, often with randomized names, to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. Its primary functionality revolves around automating the publishing process, but this has led to significant security concerns due to its malicious behavior.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's design to include autopublish scripts that modify the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses risks of unintentional dependency inclusion in projects, potentially leading to further exploitation or reputation damage for developers.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall possible_kangaroo_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
Currently, there are no specific workarounds to mitigate the effects of this vulnerability other than removing the affected package from your project.
Conclusion
The possible_kangaroo_z3n package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code designed to manipulate npm registry entries. It is crucial for developers to remove this package from their projects and monitor for any future vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the publication of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the inclusion of malicious code in your project, potentially compromising its security and integrity.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just the package-lock.json file.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without requiring any signup.
It is advisable to remove the possible_kangaroo_z3n package from your project immediately to prevent any potential security issues.
