Malicious Code Injection in small_fly_z3n Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-96635: Malicious code in small_fly_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The small_fly_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate token rewards by generating and publishing derivative packages. 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 small_fly_z3n package, which includes scripts that automatically modify package.json files to remove private flags and change version numbers. It generates random package names and continuously republishes variants, leading to pollution of the npm registry. This behavior can inflate developer reputation scores fraudulently and poses significant risks to users who may unknowingly install these malicious packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall small_fly_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 prevent the installation of the small_fly_z3n package by adding it to your project's .npmrc file with the following line: 'package-lock=false'. This will help avoid the installation of this malicious package until it is removed or patched.
Conclusion
The small_fly_z3n package contains malicious code that poses a significant risk to users and the integrity of the npm registry. It is essential to remove this package and monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain a secure development environment.
See every vulnerability recorded for small_fly_z3n →
FAQ
The small_fly_z3n package 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, removes private flags, and can lead to the installation of numerous unwanted packages, compromising your project's integrity.
If you have installed the small_fly_z3n package, it is crucial to remove it from your project immediately and check for any other affected packages.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file to alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities without requiring code access.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without signing up.
