Malicious Code Injection in Vitreous Moose Z3N Package
Summary
MAL-2025-97277: Malicious code in vitreous_moose_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
Vitreous Moose Z3N is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign targeting the npm registry. This package is associated with the tea.xyz token reward initiative, which aims to inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages. The malicious nature of this package lies in its ability to manipulate its own metadata and continuously republish variants, thereby polluting the npm ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the Vitreous Moose Z3N package stems from its inclusion in a broader scheme that utilizes autopublish scripts to create and publish numerous derivative packages with randomized names. This not only compromises the integrity of the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly incorporate these malicious packages into their projects. The malicious payload modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to potential security breaches and reputation damage for developers.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall vitreous_moose_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, avoid using the Vitreous Moose Z3N package in your projects. If it is already included, consider replacing it with a reputable alternative package that provides similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The Vitreous Moose Z3N package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters project metadata and repopulates the npm registry with harmful variants. It is crucial for developers to remove this package from their projects and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain a secure development environment.
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FAQ
Vitreous Moose Z3N is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation of derivative packages.
Incorporating the Vitreous Moose Z3N package can lead to security breaches, as it modifies your project's metadata and can introduce other malicious packages into your environment.
You should uninstall the Vitreous Moose Z3N package immediately using the command npm uninstall vitreous_moose_z3n and check for any dependencies that may be affected.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software by analyzing your package-lock.json file. You can check your application for vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground without any signup.
Regularly audit your dependencies using tools like npm audit and stay updated on the latest security advisories for the packages you use.
