Malicious Code Injection in vocal_moth_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-110605: Malicious code in vocal_moth_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The vocal_moth_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript development. This package has been identified as part of a malicious campaign related to the tea.xyz token reward system. It is designed to inflate developer reputation scores by automatically generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names, which can lead to pollution of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the malicious intent behind the vocal_moth_z3n package, which includes scripts that modify the package.json file to remove private flags and change version numbers. It generates random package names and continuously republishes variants, leading to potential security risks such as unauthorized access to sensitive data and the compromise of the npm registry's integrity.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall vocal_moth_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 vocal_moth_z3n package and remove any references to it in your project. Additionally, you can monitor your project for any unauthorized changes to the package.json file.
Conclusion
The vocal_moth_z3n package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code designed to manipulate package metadata and pollute the npm registry. It is essential to remove this package and monitor your project for vulnerabilities to maintain security and integrity.
See every vulnerability recorded for vocal_moth_z3n →
FAQ
The vocal_moth_z3n package is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores.
This vulnerability can lead to unauthorized modifications of your package.json file, potentially compromising your project's integrity and security.
If you have installed the vocal_moth_z3n package, it is crucial to remove it from your project immediately and monitor for any unauthorized changes.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just the package-lock.json file.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
