Malicious Code Injection in wet_heron_z3n: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-97352: Malicious code in wet_heron_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 wet_heron_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package, like many others in this campaign, is designed to manipulate the npm registry by generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names. Its primary function is to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards, but this functionality comes with significant security risks.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in wet_heron_z3n originates 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 variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially compromising the integrity of other packages. The malicious code can affect developers by damaging their reputation and introducing security risks into their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall wet_heron_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 remove the wet_heron_z3n package from your project by executing the command: npm uninstall wet_heron_z3n. This will prevent any malicious code from executing in your application until a fix is applied.
Conclusion
The wet_heron_z3n package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is essential for developers to take immediate action by updating or removing the package to protect their applications from potential threats.
See every vulnerability recorded for wet_heron_z3n →
FAQ
wet_heron_z3n is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to manipulate npm registry entries.
The vulnerability can lead to the introduction of malicious code, which may compromise your application's integrity and security.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. Visit Vulert Scanner to check your application without any signup.
If an immediate update is not possible, consider uninstalling the package as a temporary measure to mitigate risks.
Detailed information can be found in the vulnerability report on the GitHub repository for malicious packages.
