Malicious Code Injection in tender_loon_z3n: npm Package Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-96953: Malicious code in tender_loon_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The 'tender_loon_z3n' package is part of the tea.xyz token reward campaign that has recently infiltrated the npm ecosystem. This package is designed to automate the generation and publication of derivative packages, which are often used to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. The malicious nature of this package lies in its ability to modify critical files and republish variants that can clutter the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'tender_loon_z3n' originates from its inclusion in a malicious campaign that employs scripts to automatically publish derivative packages with randomized names. This behavior not only modifies the package.json file by removing private flags and changing version numbers but also generates random package names, leading to potential pollution of the npm registry. The ramifications include compromised developer reputations and the risk of inadvertently using malicious packages in projects.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall tender_loon_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 'tender_loon_z3n' package and replace it with a trusted alternative. Additionally, you can monitor your project for any unauthorized changes to the package.json file.
Conclusion
The 'tender_loon_z3n' package poses a significant risk due to its malicious behavior of modifying package files and republishing variants. It is crucial for developers to be vigilant about the packages they use and to take immediate action if they find this package in their projects.
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FAQ
The 'tender_loon_z3n' package is part of a malicious campaign that automates the creation and publication of npm packages to inflate developer reputation scores.
This vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and may compromise the integrity of your project by introducing malicious code.
You should uninstall the package immediately using the command: npm uninstall tender_loon_z3n.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file for open-source 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.
