Malicious Code Injection in Widespread Kite Z3N Package
Summary
MAL-2025-92304: Malicious code in widespread_kite_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
Widespread Kite Z3N is an npm package that has been identified as part of a larger campaign to exploit the npm registry. This package is associated with the tea.xyz token reward initiative, which has been known to flood the npm ecosystem with malicious packages. The primary function of this package is to serve as a conduit for autopublishing scripts that generate derivative packages, thereby inflating developer reputation scores for token rewards.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the Widespread Kite Z3N package stems from its malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags and alters version numbers. It generates random package names, often themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants to pollute the npm registry. This behavior can lead to significant security risks, including the potential for dependency confusion and exploitation of unsuspecting developers who may inadvertently install these malicious packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall widespread_kite_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 Widespread Kite Z3N package from your project by executing: 'npm uninstall widespread_kite_z3n'. Additionally, consider using a tool like Vulert to monitor your package-lock.json file for vulnerabilities. You can check if your application is affected by this vulnerability using the Vulert playground at https://vulert.com/scanner without any signup.
Conclusion
The Widespread Kite Z3N package has been identified as a malicious entity within the npm ecosystem, posing significant risks to developers and their applications. It is crucial to take immediate action by updating or removing the package and utilizing tools like Vulert to safeguard against future vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
Widespread Kite Z3N is an npm package associated with a malicious campaign that exploits the npm registry by generating and publishing derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the installation of malicious packages, which may compromise your application's security and integrity.
You should uninstall the Widespread Kite Z3N package immediately and check for any other affected packages in your project.
You can use Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. Visit https://vulert.com for more information.
Regularly update your dependencies, use tools like Vulert for monitoring, and review the packages you include in your projects to ensure they are from trusted sources.
