Malicious Code Injection in querulous_planarian_z3n: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-89882: Malicious code in querulous_planarian_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
querulous_planarian_z3n is an npm package that is part of the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious scripts that compromise the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in querulous_planarian_z3n originates from its inclusion in a campaign that floods the npm ecosystem with malicious packages. These packages contain scripts that modify the package.json file to remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly install these compromised packages, leading to potential security breaches in their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall querulous_planarian_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 querulous_planarian_z3n package and instead look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The querulous_planarian_z3n package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package configurations and floods the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to be vigilant and remove such packages from their projects to maintain the integrity and security of their applications.
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FAQ
querulous_planarian_z3n is an npm package involved in a token reward campaign that has been identified as containing malicious code.
The malicious code can modify your package.json file, remove private flags, and publish unauthorized packages, potentially compromising your application's security.
You should uninstall the querulous_planarian_z3n package immediately and check for any unauthorized changes in your project.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file for vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access or installation.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without signing up.
