Malicious Code Injection in public_aardwolf_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-96097: Malicious code in public_aardwolf_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The public_aardwolf_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. It is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages. However, this package has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and the security of applications relying on it.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file by removing private flags and altering version numbers. It generates random package names, often themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants to pollute the npm registry. This behavior can lead to significant security risks, including the potential for unauthorized access and manipulation of dependent applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall public_aardwolf_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 prevent the installation of this malicious package by using npm's package-lock.json file to lock your dependencies. Additionally, consider using the following command to uninstall the package: npm uninstall public_aardwolf_z3n.
Conclusion
The public_aardwolf_z3n package contains a serious vulnerability due to its malicious code that alters package configurations and floods the npm registry. It is crucial to remove this package and monitor your dependencies for any potential threats.
See every vulnerability recorded for public_aardwolf_z3n →
FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The malicious code can compromise your application's integrity, potentially leading to unauthorized access and manipulation.
You should uninstall the public_aardwolf_z3n package immediately and monitor for any updates or patches.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using your package-lock.json file.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without requiring any signup.
