Malicious Code Injection in wicked_echidna_z3n: npm Package Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-110892: Malicious code in wicked_echidna_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
wicked_echidna_z3n is an npm package that is part of the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the generation and publication of derivative packages, often with randomized names, to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. Its functionality is compromised by malicious scripts that manipulate package metadata.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in wicked_echidna_z3n stems from its association with a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with derivative packages. The malicious payload modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages, leading to potential security breaches and loss of reputation.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall wicked_echidna_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 remove the wicked_echidna_z3n package from your project by executing: npm uninstall wicked_echidna_z3n. This will prevent any malicious code from executing while you assess the situation.
Conclusion
The wicked_echidna_z3n package is compromised by malicious code that modifies package metadata and floods the npm registry with derivative packages. It is crucial to uninstall this package and monitor your projects for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert to ensure ongoing security.
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FAQ
wicked_echidna_z3n is an npm package involved in a token reward campaign that generates and publishes derivative packages to inflate developer reputation scores.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry with malicious packages, potentially compromising your project's security and integrity.
If you have wicked_echidna_z3n installed, you should uninstall it immediately and check for any updates or patches that address the vulnerability.
Yes, you can use Vulert to monitor your project for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. Vulert uses package-lock.json to alert you of any issues without requiring code access.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
