Malicious Code Injection in wild_halibut_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-97375: Malicious code in wild_halibut_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The wild_halibut_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, often utilized in JavaScript projects for various functionalities. However, it has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with harmful packages. This package, like others in the campaign, is designed to manipulate developer reputation scores through automated publishing scripts.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the wild_halibut_z3n package stems from its involvement in a malicious campaign that 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 that pollute the npm registry, potentially compromising the integrity of the ecosystem and affecting developers who rely on these packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall wild_halibut_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a workaround, you can avoid using the wild_halibut_z3n package altogether. If it is already in use, consider removing it and replacing it with a trusted alternative package that provides similar functionality.
Conclusion
The wild_halibut_z3n package poses a significant risk due to its malicious behavior, which can compromise the integrity of the npm ecosystem. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their projects for vulnerabilities to maintain security.
See every vulnerability recorded for wild_halibut_z3n →
FAQ
The wild_halibut_z3n package is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to manipulate developer reputation scores.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, potentially affecting the integrity of your project and introducing security risks.
You should remove the wild_halibut_z3n package from your project immediately and consider using a trusted alternative.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just your package-lock.json file.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
