Malicious Code Injection in substantial_hare_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-109238: Malicious code in substantial_hare_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The substantial_hare_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, typically used for various JavaScript applications. It has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with derivative packages. This package, like others in the campaign, is designed to manipulate developer reputation scores through automated publishing of variants with randomized names.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability stems from the malicious code embedded within the substantial_hare_z3n package. This code modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of these variants. The primary risk includes the pollution of the npm registry, which can mislead developers and compromise the integrity of the ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall substantial_hare_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, you can avoid using the substantial_hare_z3n package and monitor your application for any dependencies that may have been affected. Additionally, you can use the following command to check for vulnerabilities in your project: npm audit.
Conclusion
The substantial_hare_z3n package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to uninstall this package and monitor their applications for any vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of their software.
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FAQ
It is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to inflate developer reputation scores through automated publishing.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, potentially leading to the pollution of the npm registry and compromising the integrity of your application.
You should uninstall the substantial_hare_z3n package immediately and check for any dependencies that may be affected.
No patch is available for the substantial_hare_z3n package; the best course of action is to remove it from your project.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just your package-lock.json. You can check your application for vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground without any signup.
