Malicious Code Injection in recent_gerbil_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-96223: Malicious code in recent_gerbil_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The recent_gerbil_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 alters its own package.json file and publishes variants to manipulate developer reputation scores.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the recent_gerbil_z3n package stems from its malicious payload, which modifies the package.json to remove private flags and changes version numbers. It generates random package names, primarily themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants to the npm registry. This behavior not only pollutes the registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages, potentially leading to security breaches in their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall recent_gerbil_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 recent_gerbil_z3n package altogether. If it is already in use, remove it from your project dependencies by executing: npm uninstall recent_gerbil_z3n.
Conclusion
The recent_gerbil_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that can compromise application security. It is crucial to remove this package from your projects 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
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the inclusion of malicious code in your application, potentially compromising its security and integrity.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just the package-lock.json file. Visit Vulert Scanner to check your application without any signup.
You should uninstall the recent_gerbil_z3n package immediately and monitor for any updates or patches that may be released.
Regularly monitor your dependencies using tools like Vulert and keep your packages updated to minimize the risk of vulnerabilities.
