Malicious Code Injection in statistical_anglerfish_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-96758: Malicious code in statistical_anglerfish_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The statistical_anglerfish_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package, like many others, is intended to facilitate the development of applications by providing reusable code. However, it has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that aims to manipulate the npm registry and inflate developer reputation scores through automated scripts.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the statistical_anglerfish_z3n package arises from its association with a malicious campaign that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior is designed to flood the npm registry with derivative packages, ultimately compromising the integrity of the registry and potentially leading to the distribution of harmful code to unsuspecting developers.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall statistical_anglerfish_z3n
If 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 statistical_anglerfish_z3n package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to monitor your project for vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The statistical_anglerfish_z3n package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code injection. It is essential to remove this package from your projects and monitor for similar vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert. Staying informed and proactive can help safeguard your applications from potential threats.
See every vulnerability recorded for statistical_anglerfish_z3n →
FAQ
It is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to manipulate the npm registry.
This vulnerability can lead to the introduction of malicious code into your project, compromising its security and integrity.
You should uninstall the package immediately using the command npm uninstall statistical_anglerfish_z3n.
You can use Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access.
Yes, consider looking for other reputable npm packages that offer similar functionality without the associated risks.