Malicious Code Injection in Subtle Chipmunk Z3N Package
Summary
MAL-2025-90786: Malicious code in subtle_chipmunk_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
Subtle Chipmunk Z3N is an npm package that has been associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publishing of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been compromised to include malicious scripts that manipulate package metadata.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the Subtle Chipmunk Z3N package originates from its association with a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with derivative packages. The malicious payload modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly install these compromised packages, potentially leading to further exploitation.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall subtle_chipmunk_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 Subtle Chipmunk Z3N package altogether and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The Subtle Chipmunk Z3N package has been identified as containing malicious code that can compromise projects using it. It is essential to remove this package and monitor for any similar vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of your software. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in identifying and managing such risks effectively.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with a token reward campaign that has been compromised to include malicious scripts.
The vulnerability can lead to the installation of malicious packages that may compromise your project and pollute the npm registry.
You should uninstall the package immediately using npm uninstall subtle_chipmunk_z3n and check for any other affected packages.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just your package-lock.json file.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without needing to sign up.
