Malicious Code Injection in possible_thrush_z3n Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-107164: Malicious code in possible_thrush_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The possible_thrush_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 integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the possible_thrush_z3n package stems from malicious code that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of these variants, which pollutes the npm registry and can potentially harm developers and users relying on the integrity of the packages. The source of this vulnerability is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood npm with such malicious packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall possible_thrush_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 remove the possible_thrush_z3n package from your project if it is not essential. This can be done using the command: npm uninstall possible_thrush_z3n. Additionally, consider using a package lock file to prevent the installation of malicious packages.
Conclusion
The possible_thrush_z3n package contains malicious code that poses a significant risk to developers and users within the npm ecosystem. It is crucial to take immediate action by updating or removing the package to protect your projects from potential exploitation. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help monitor for such vulnerabilities in real-time.
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FAQ
The possible_thrush_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automatically generate and publish derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, removes private flags, and continuously republishes variants, which can lead to pollution of the npm registry and compromise your project's integrity.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. Visit the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without requiring any signup.
If you cannot update the package immediately, consider removing it from your project as a temporary measure to mitigate the risk of exploitation.
More information can be found in the vulnerability report on the official GitHub repository or by consulting security advisories related to npm packages.
