Malicious Code Injection in uneven_echidna_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-97120: Malicious code in uneven_echidna_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The uneven_echidna_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, typically used in JavaScript applications. It is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with malicious packages. This package, like others in the campaign, is designed to manipulate developer reputation scores through automated publishing scripts.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the uneven_echidna_z3n package stems from its malicious code that modifies the package.json file. It removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of these 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 in their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall uneven_echidna_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 prevent the use of this package by removing it from your package.json and running npm install to update your dependencies. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to monitor your project for vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The uneven_echidna_z3n package contains malicious code that poses significant risks to developers and their applications. It is crucial to remove this package and monitor for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert to maintain the security of your projects.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, known for containing malicious code.
The code modifies your package.json, potentially leading to security vulnerabilities and pollution of the npm registry.
You can use Vulert's playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities in your application without any signup.
Remove the uneven_echidna_z3n package from your project and check for any updates or patches.
Vulert is a useful tool that monitors your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities in real-time.
