Malicious Code Injection in progressive_barnacle_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-96052: Malicious code in progressive_barnacle_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The progressive_barnacle_z3n package is part of a series of npm packages associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to automate the generation and publication of derivative packages, often with randomized names, to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. The package's functionality is compromised by malicious scripts that manipulate its metadata.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the progressive_barnacle_z3n package stems from its association with a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with derivative packages. The malicious code modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of these variants. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who might unknowingly use these compromised packages, potentially leading to security breaches in their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall progressive_barnacle_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 progressive_barnacle_z3n package and consider alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, regularly audit your npm packages using tools like npm audit to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The progressive_barnacle_z3n package contains a significant vulnerability due to its association with a malicious npm campaign. Developers are advised to remove this package and monitor their applications for potential risks. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in identifying and mitigating such vulnerabilities effectively.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the generation of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the introduction of malicious code in your application, potentially compromising its security and integrity.
You should immediately remove the progressive_barnacle_z3n package from your project and monitor for any updates or patches.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
