Malicious Code Injection in public_koala_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-107416: Malicious code in public_koala_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The public_koala_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, often associated with token reward campaigns. It is designed to facilitate the publication of JavaScript packages. However, this package has been identified as malicious, containing scripts that manipulate its own metadata and publish numerous derivative packages to inflate developer reputation scores.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the public_koala_z3n package stems from its malicious code, 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 variants, which pollutes the npm registry and can compromise the integrity of the ecosystem. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which employs such tactics to exploit npm's publishing mechanisms.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall public_koala_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, avoid using the public_koala_z3n package and monitor your project for any unintended dependencies that may have been introduced. You can also use the following command to check for vulnerabilities in your project: npm audit.
Conclusion
The public_koala_z3n package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that modifies package metadata and republish variants. It is crucial to remove this package from your project and monitor for any related vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help maintain the security of your software.
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FAQ
The public_koala_z3n package is an npm package that has been identified as malicious, designed to manipulate package metadata and publish numerous derivative packages.
The malicious code can compromise your project's integrity by inflating developer reputation scores and polluting the npm registry with unwanted packages.
If you have installed the public_koala_z3n package, you should uninstall it immediately using the command: npm uninstall public_koala_z3n.
Yes, you can use tools like Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software without requiring code access.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
