Malicious Code Injection in sensitive_parrotfish_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-96522: Malicious code in sensitive_parrotfish_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The sensitive_parrotfish_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 and the security of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags and alters version numbers. It generates random package names, primarily themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants to pollute the npm registry. This behavior can lead to a significant increase in the number of untrustworthy packages, potentially affecting developers who rely on the npm ecosystem for secure package management.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall sensitive_parrotfish_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 sensitive_parrotfish_z3n package and instead look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can monitor your project using tools like Vulert, which can alert you to open-source vulnerabilities in real-time.
Conclusion
The sensitive_parrotfish_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses a significant risk to developers using the npm ecosystem. It is essential to remove this package and monitor for any potential vulnerabilities in your projects. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help ensure your applications remain secure.
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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 malicious code modifies your package.json file and can lead to the proliferation of untrustworthy packages in the npm registry, potentially compromising your project's security.
You should remove the sensitive_parrotfish_z3n package from your project immediately and monitor for any updates or patches.
You can use 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 for vulnerabilities in your application without requiring any signup.
