Malicious Code Injection in puzzled_coyote_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-96124: Malicious code in puzzled_coyote_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The puzzled_coyote_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with malicious packages. The primary function of this package is to facilitate the automatic generation and publishing of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, this functionality has been compromised by the presence of malicious code.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the puzzled_coyote_z3n package originates from its association with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. The malicious code embedded in this package 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 pollutes the npm registry and can potentially harm developers' reputations and the integrity of the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall puzzled_coyote_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 puzzled_coyote_z3n package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can use the following command to check for vulnerabilities in your project: npm audit.
Conclusion
The puzzled_coyote_z3n package contains malicious code that poses a significant risk to developers and the npm ecosystem. It is essential to remove this package from your project and monitor for any updates or patches. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help you stay informed about vulnerabilities in your dependencies.
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FAQ
The puzzled_coyote_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the generation and publishing of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, potentially harming your project's reputation and exposing it to further security risks.
You should immediately uninstall the puzzled_coyote_z3n package using the command npm uninstall puzzled_coyote_z3n.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities using just your package-lock.json file.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
