Malicious Code Injection in Technological Lemming Z3N: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-90997: Malicious code in technological_lemming_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
Technological Lemming Z3N is an npm package that is part of the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the generation and publication of derivative packages, often with randomized names, to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. The package's functionality is compromised by malicious scripts that manipulate its metadata and behavior.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability stems from malicious code embedded within the technological_lemming_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 variants. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages, potentially leading to security breaches and loss of data integrity.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall technological_lemming_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary measure, avoid using the technological_lemming_z3n package and consider using alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. You can also monitor your package dependencies using tools like Vulert, which can alert you to vulnerabilities in real-time.
Conclusion
The technological_lemming_z3n package poses a significant risk due to its embedded malicious code, which alters package metadata and can lead to security vulnerabilities. It is essential to remove this package and monitor your dependencies for any potential threats.
See every vulnerability recorded for technological_lemming_z3n →
FAQ
It is an npm package involved in the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, removes private flags, and generates random package names, which can lead to security vulnerabilities.
You should remove the technological_lemming_z3n package from your project immediately and monitor for any updates or patches.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities and alerts you in real-time.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without needing to sign up.
