Malicious Code Injection in vocal_peafowl_z3n: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-110606: Malicious code in vocal_peafowl_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 package vocal_peafowl_z3n is part of the npm ecosystem and has been identified as part of a malicious campaign targeting developers. It is designed to automatically generate and publish derivative packages with randomized names, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. This behavior poses a significant risk to the integrity of the npm registry and can lead to the proliferation of malicious packages.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in vocal_peafowl_z3n originates from its association with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. The package contains scripts that modify the package.json file to remove private flags and change version numbers, allowing it to republish variants continuously. This not only pollutes the npm registry but also compromises the security of applications that depend on this package, potentially leading to unauthorized access or data breaches.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall vocal_peafowl_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 vocal_peafowl_z3n and any packages that depend on it until a secure version is released. Additionally, consider using alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The vocal_peafowl_z3n package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that modifies package metadata and repopulates the npm registry with potentially harmful variants. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for any vulnerabilities.
See every vulnerability recorded for vocal_peafowl_z3n →
FAQ
vocal_peafowl_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.
The vulnerability can lead to the introduction of malicious code into your application, potentially compromising its security and integrity.
You should uninstall the package immediately using 'npm uninstall vocal_peafowl_z3n' and check for any other affected dependencies.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. You can check your application against known vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground without requiring any installation.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability, without needing to sign up.
