Malicious Code Vulnerability in striking_barnacle_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-90770: Malicious code in striking_barnacle_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The striking_barnacle_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been linked to the proliferation of malicious packages designed to inflate developer reputation scores. The package's functionality has been compromised, leading to significant security risks.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's malicious code that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags and change version numbers. It generates random package names and continuously republishes variants to pollute the npm registry. This behavior can lead to unauthorized access and manipulation of the package, potentially affecting applications that depend on it.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall striking_barnacle_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, avoid using the striking_barnacle_z3n package and consider using alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The striking_barnacle_z3n package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and repopulates the npm registry with harmful variants. It is crucial to remove this package and monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
striking_barnacle_z3n is an npm package that has been found to contain malicious code aimed at inflating developer reputation scores.
The vulnerability can lead to unauthorized modifications in your application's dependencies, potentially compromising its security and functionality.
You should uninstall the striking_barnacle_z3n package immediately and replace it with a secure alternative.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file for vulnerabilities in real-time 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 any signup.
