Malicious Code Injection in specific_xerinae_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-96707: Malicious code in specific_xerinae_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The specific_xerinae_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, often with randomized names, to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and security.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the specific_xerinae_z3n package originates from its inclusion in 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. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants, which pollutes the npm registry and can potentially affect other developers and applications relying on npm packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall specific_xerinae_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a workaround, you can temporarily avoid using the specific_xerinae_z3n package by removing it from your dependencies. If you need similar functionality, consider using alternative packages that are verified and do not have known vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The specific_xerinae_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its security and integrity. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor for any updates or patches. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in identifying vulnerabilities in your applications.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the generation of derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file and can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, potentially affecting other applications and developers.
You should remove the specific_xerinae_z3n package from your project and monitor for any updates or patches.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just package-lock.json.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without requiring any signup.
