Malicious Code Injection in probable_hummingbird_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-96036: Malicious code in probable_hummingbird_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The probable_hummingbird_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, often associated with token reward campaigns that aim to inflate developer reputation scores. This package is designed to automate the generation and publication of derivative packages with randomized names, which can lead to pollution of the npm registry and potential security risks for developers using these packages.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability stems from the package's malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior is intended to create numerous variants of the package, thereby flooding the npm registry and potentially compromising the integrity of other packages. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which exploits npm's publishing mechanisms.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall probable_hummingbird_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 avoid using the probable_hummingbird_z3n package and any packages that depend on it. Additionally, consider using tools 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 probable_hummingbird_z3n package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their projects for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with token reward campaigns that automate the generation of derivative packages.
The malicious code can compromise your project's integrity by modifying package.json and flooding the npm registry with unwanted packages.
You should uninstall the package immediately and monitor your project for any further vulnerabilities.
Regularly audit your dependencies and use tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in real-time.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities without any signup.
