Malicious Code Injection in scared_panther_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-96448: Malicious code in scared_panther_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The scared_panther_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that aims to exploit the npm registry by generating and publishing numerous derivative packages with randomized names. These actions are intended to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards associated with the tea protocol.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the scared_panther_z3n package originates from its association with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. It contains malicious scripts that modify the package.json file to remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants, which pollutes the npm registry and can compromise the integrity of the ecosystem. The ramifications include potential security risks for developers who unknowingly install these malicious packages, as well as damage to the reputation of the npm registry itself.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall scared_panther_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 scared_panther_z3n package and instead look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can use the following command to uninstall the package: npm uninstall scared_panther_z3n.
Conclusion
The scared_panther_z3n package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their projects for vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of their applications.
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FAQ
The scared_panther_z3n package is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to exploit the npm registry.
If you have the scared_panther_z3n package installed, it may compromise your project's security by introducing malicious code that alters your package.json file and republishing variants.
You should immediately uninstall the scared_panther_z3n package from your project and monitor for any updates or patches.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file to alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
