Malicious Code Injection in typical_deer_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-97065: Malicious code in typical_deer_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
The typical_deer_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, its functionality has been compromised by malicious code that alters its behavior.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the typical_deer_z3n package stems from its inclusion in a malicious campaign that utilizes autopublish scripts to generate and publish numerous derivative packages with randomized names. This malicious payload modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, changing version numbers, and continuously republishing variants to pollute the npm registry. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the tea.xyz token reward initiative, which has led to the proliferation of such malicious packages in the npm ecosystem. The ramifications include potential security risks for developers who unknowingly use these packages, as well as damage to the integrity of the npm registry.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall typical_deer_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 workaround, you can avoid using the typical_deer_z3n package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The typical_deer_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses significant risks to developers and the npm registry. It is crucial to remove this package from your projects and monitor for any updates or alternatives to ensure the security of your applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for typical_deer_z3n →
FAQ
The typical_deer_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with a token reward campaign that generates derivative packages.
The malicious code can modify your package.json file, remove private flags, and lead to the publication of unauthorized packages, potentially compromising your project's integrity.
You should uninstall the typical_deer_z3n package immediately using the command: npm uninstall typical_deer_z3n.
Yes, you should look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the security risks associated with typical_deer_z3n.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just package-lock.json. You can check if your application is affected by this vulnerability using the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner.
