Malicious Code Injection in profound_junglefowl_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-96049: Malicious code in profound_junglefowl_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The profound_junglefowl_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 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 originates 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 leads to the continuous republishing of these variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially affecting other developers who rely on the integrity of the ecosystem. The malicious scripts included (auto.js, autopublish.js, etc.) are designed to automate this process, making it difficult to track and mitigate the issue.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall profound_junglefowl_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 profound_junglefowl_z3n package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can monitor your package-lock.json file for any unexpected changes that may indicate the presence of malicious packages.
Conclusion
The profound_junglefowl_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises the integrity of the npm ecosystem. It is essential to take immediate action by uninstalling the package and monitoring your project for any related vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help maintain the security of your open-source projects.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json, removes private flags, and republishes variants, which can lead to pollution of the npm registry and affect your project's integrity.
You should uninstall the package immediately using npm uninstall profound_junglefowl_z3n and check for any dependencies that may be affected.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities using just your package-lock.json. You can check if your application is affected by this vulnerability using the Vulert playground.
Regularly update your dependencies, monitor your package-lock.json for changes, and utilize tools like Vulert to stay informed about potential vulnerabilities.
