Malicious Code Injection in responsible_buzzard_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-96331: Malicious code in responsible_buzzard_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The responsible_buzzard_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with 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 code that compromises its integrity.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's malicious payload, 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, polluting the npm registry and potentially affecting other developers and users relying on legitimate packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall responsible_buzzard_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 responsible_buzzard_z3n package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The responsible_buzzard_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and can negatively impact projects using it. Immediate action is required to uninstall this package and monitor for any potential vulnerabilities in your project.
See every vulnerability recorded for responsible_buzzard_z3n →
FAQ
It is an npm package linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The malicious code can alter your package.json, leading to the publication of unwanted packages and potentially damaging your project's reputation.
You should uninstall the responsible_buzzard_z3n package immediately and monitor your project for any unusual activity.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. You can check your application using the Vulert playground without any signup.
Regularly update your dependencies, monitor for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert, and review your package.json for any suspicious packages.
