Malicious Code Injection in smooth_bison_z3n: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-96643: Malicious code in smooth_bison_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'smooth_bison_z3n' is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This campaign has been known to flood the npm registry with packages that contain harmful scripts. These scripts are designed to manipulate package metadata and inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'smooth_bison_z3n' stems from its inclusion in a malicious campaign that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates 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 malicious payload is designed to exploit developers and users by creating confusion and potentially leading to the installation of harmful packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall smooth_bison_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, you can avoid using the 'smooth_bison_z3n' package and replace it with a trusted alternative. Always verify the integrity and source of packages before installation.
Conclusion
The 'smooth_bison_z3n' package poses a significant threat due to its malicious code designed to manipulate npm package metadata. It is crucial for developers to be vigilant, remove any affected packages, and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in their projects.
See every vulnerability recorded for smooth_bison_z3n →
FAQ
The main issue is that it contains malicious code that modifies package metadata and floods the npm registry with harmful variants.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. Visit Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without needing to sign up.
You should uninstall the package immediately using 'npm uninstall smooth_bison_z3n' and review your project's dependencies for any other potentially harmful packages.
Yes, the impacts include the pollution of the npm registry, potential installation of harmful packages, and compromised developer reputation scores.
To prevent similar vulnerabilities, always use trusted packages, regularly update your dependencies, and monitor your projects with tools like Vulert.
