Malicious Code Injection in shiny_wombat_z3n Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-96569: Malicious code in shiny_wombat_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The shiny_wombat_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 generation and publication of derivative packages, which are often used to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and the security of applications that depend on it.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the shiny_wombat_z3n package originates from its association with a campaign that floods the npm registry with malicious packages. The malicious payload modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names, which leads to the continuous republishing of these variants. This behavior can pollute the npm registry and potentially expose applications to further vulnerabilities, as it undermines the trustworthiness of the package management system.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall shiny_wombat_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 remove the shiny_wombat_z3n package from your project if it is not critical. You can do this by executing the command: npm uninstall shiny_wombat_z3n. Additionally, consider using alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The shiny_wombat_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses a significant risk to applications using it. It is crucial to update or remove the package to safeguard your project from potential vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help monitor your dependencies for any security issues.
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FAQ
shiny_wombat_z3n 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 modification of your package.json file, potentially exposing your application to further security risks and compromising its integrity.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just the package-lock.json file. You can check your application for vulnerabilities without needing to install anything.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
If you cannot update the package right away, consider removing it from your project or using an alternative package until a fix is available.
