Malicious Code Injection in rolling_kangaroo_z3n: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-96396: Malicious code in rolling_kangaroo_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package rolling_kangaroo_z3n is part of a series of npm packages that emerged during the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to manipulate the npm registry by generating and publishing numerous derivative packages with randomized names. The primary function of these packages is to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards, but they also introduce significant security risks.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in rolling_kangaroo_z3n stems from its malicious payload that modifies the package.json file. It removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of variants. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but also compromises the integrity of the ecosystem, making it difficult for developers to trust legitimate packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall rolling_kangaroo_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a workaround, you can temporarily avoid using the rolling_kangaroo_z3n package by replacing it with a trusted alternative or by manually managing your dependencies to ensure no malicious packages are included.
Conclusion
The rolling_kangaroo_z3n package poses a significant threat to the npm ecosystem due to its malicious behavior. It is crucial for developers to be vigilant and remove such packages from their projects to maintain the integrity and security of their applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for rolling_kangaroo_z3n →
FAQ
rolling_kangaroo_z3n is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores through the creation of numerous derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, making it difficult to identify legitimate packages and potentially compromising the security of your project.
You should uninstall the rolling_kangaroo_z3n package immediately and check your project for any other potentially malicious packages.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file to alert you in real-time for any open-source vulnerabilities in your software.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
