Malicious Code Vulnerability in probable_parrotfish_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-107300: Malicious code in probable_parrotfish_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The probable_parrotfish_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate automated publishing of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's design to include autopublish scripts that modify the package.json file. These modifications remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of variants. This behavior pollutes the npm registry and can potentially harm developers by affecting their reputation and the reliability of the packages they depend on.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall probable_parrotfish_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 avoid using the probable_parrotfish_z3n package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The probable_parrotfish_z3n package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and pollutes the npm registry. It is essential to remove this package from your project and monitor for any future vulnerabilities.
See every vulnerability recorded for probable_parrotfish_z3n →
FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the publishing of derivative packages.
The malicious code can compromise your project's integrity by polluting the npm registry and affecting your reputation as a developer.
You should uninstall the package immediately using the command: npm uninstall probable_parrotfish_z3n.
Yes, you should look for other npm packages that provide similar functionality without the malicious behavior.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just package-lock.json. You can check your application for vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner.
