Malicious Code Injection in steep_cod_z3n Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-96770: Malicious code in steep_cod_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The steep_cod_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, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. Its primary functionality revolves around creating and managing these packages, but it has been compromised, leading to significant security concerns.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the steep_cod_z3n package stems from its malicious code that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior is intended to pollute the npm registry by continuously republishing variants, which can lead to reputational damage for developers and compromise the integrity of the npm ecosystem. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood npm with such malicious packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall steep_cod_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 monitor your package dependencies using tools like Vulert. By utilizing Vulert, you can check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring access to the code or installation. You can use the Vulert playground at https://vulert.com/scanner to analyze your package-lock.json file for vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The steep_cod_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises the integrity of the npm ecosystem. It is crucial for developers to uninstall this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert to ensure the security of their projects.
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FAQ
The steep_cod_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to create and publish derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, reputational damage for developers, and potential security risks in your project.
You should uninstall the steep_cod_z3n package immediately using the command npm uninstall steep_cod_z3n.
Yes, you can use Vulert to monitor your package dependencies in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities without needing to access the code.
There is no patch available for steep_cod_z3n, and it is recommended to remove the package entirely from your project.
