Malicious Code Injection in wealthy_lizard_z3n Package: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-98995: Malicious code in wealthy_lizard_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The wealthy_lizard_z3n package is part of a series of npm packages associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to generate and publish derivative packages automatically, which can inflate developer reputation scores. However, this functionality has been exploited to introduce malicious code that compromises the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the wealthy_lizard_z3n package stems from its malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of these variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially affecting other packages and developers relying on npm for their projects. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm ecosystem with such malicious packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall wealthy_lizard_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 wealthy_lizard_z3n package and any other packages associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. Additionally, regularly audit your npm packages using the command: npm audit to identify and address vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The wealthy_lizard_z3n package poses a significant threat to the npm ecosystem due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the registry with derivative packages. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their projects for vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of their applications.
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FAQ
The wealthy_lizard_z3n package is part of a series of npm packages that are involved in a token reward campaign, designed to inflate developer reputation scores.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, removes private flags, and generates random package names, which can lead to pollution of the npm registry and potential security risks.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. By utilizing the Vulert playground, you can check if your application is affected without any signup.
If you have installed the wealthy_lizard_z3n package, it is recommended to remove it immediately and check for any other affected packages in your project.
Yes, tools like Vulert can help monitor and alert you to open-source vulnerabilities in your software, ensuring you stay informed about potential risks.
