Malicious Code Injection in profitable_ape_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-96045: Malicious code in profitable_ape_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
The profitable_ape_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, which are often used to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and the security of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the profitable_ape_z3n package originates from its design to automatically generate and publish derivative packages with randomized names. This malicious behavior includes modifying the package.json file to remove private flags, changing version numbers, and continuously republishing variants. As a result, it pollutes the npm registry and can lead to reputational damage for developers and potential security risks for users who inadvertently install these compromised packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall profitable_ape_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →
Workaround
As a workaround, you can avoid using the profitable_ape_z3n package altogether. If it is already in use, consider removing it from your package.json and running npm install to clean up your dependencies.
Conclusion
The profitable_ape_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses a significant risk to developers and users within the npm ecosystem. It is crucial to remove this package from your projects and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in real-time.
See every vulnerability recorded for profitable_ape_z3n →
FAQ
The profitable_ape_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the installation of malicious packages, which may compromise your project's security and integrity.
You should remove the profitable_ape_z3n package from your project and monitor for any updates or patches that may address the vulnerability.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities. You can check your application using the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner without any signup.
Regularly audit your dependencies, use tools like Vulert for real-time monitoring, and stay updated on security advisories related to the packages you use.
