Malicious Code Injection in principal_grouse_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-96025: Malicious code in principal_grouse_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The principal_grouse_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, often used in JavaScript projects for various functionalities. However, it has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with derivative packages. This package is designed to manipulate the npm registry and inflate developer reputation scores through automated scripts.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the principal_grouse_z3n package stems from its malicious code, which 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 variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially compromising the integrity of other packages. The origin of this issue is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which incentivizes developers to publish numerous packages, often at the expense of quality and security.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall principal_grouse_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 this package by using npm's package-lock.json file to lock your dependencies. Additionally, consider using a tool like Vulert to monitor your project for vulnerabilities. You can check if your application is affected by this vulnerability using the Vulert playground at https://vulert.com/scanner without any signup.
Conclusion
The principal_grouse_z3n package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is essential to remove this package from your project and monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of your software.
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FAQ
It is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to inflate developer reputation scores through automated publishing.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, potentially compromising the integrity of your project's dependencies.
You should uninstall the principal_grouse_z3n package immediately and check your package-lock.json for any references to it.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just your package-lock.json.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
