Malicious Code Injection in querulous_damselfly_z3n: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-96146: Malicious code in querulous_damselfly_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
querulous_damselfly_z3n is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign targeting the npm ecosystem. This package is associated with the tea.xyz token reward initiative, which aims to inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages. The malicious nature of this package lies in its ability to manipulate package metadata and proliferate harmful variants across the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in querulous_damselfly_z3n originates from its design to include autopublish scripts that modify the package.json file. These modifications remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of these variants. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses risks to developers who may unknowingly incorporate these malicious packages into their projects, potentially compromising their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall querulous_damselfly_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 prevent the installation of this malicious package by using npm's package-lock.json file to monitor dependencies. Ensure that your package-lock.json does not include querulous_damselfly_z3n. You can also utilize tools like Vulert to monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities in real-time.
Conclusion
The querulous_damselfly_z3n package poses a significant threat to the npm ecosystem due to its malicious code that modifies package metadata and proliferates harmful variants. It is crucial for developers to be vigilant, regularly update their dependencies, and utilize monitoring tools like Vulert to safeguard their applications from such vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
querulous_damselfly_z3n is an npm package identified as part of a malicious campaign that modifies package metadata to inflate developer reputation scores.
The vulnerability can lead to the inclusion of malicious packages in your project, which may compromise the security and integrity of your application.
You should uninstall the package immediately using the command 'npm uninstall querulous_damselfly_z3n' and review your project's dependencies for any other vulnerabilities.
Yes, regularly monitor your dependencies using tools like Vulert, which can alert you to open-source vulnerabilities in real-time 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.
