Malicious Code Injection in willing_trout_z3n: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-99000: Malicious code in willing_trout_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package willing_trout_z3n is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with malicious packages. These packages often contain scripts designed to manipulate package metadata and inflate developer reputation scores, posing a significant risk to users and the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in willing_trout_z3n stems from its malicious payload that modifies the package.json file. It removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of variants that pollute the npm registry. This behavior can compromise the security of applications relying on this package, as it may introduce unintended dependencies and vulnerabilities.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall willing_trout_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 prevent the installation of this package by using npm's package-lock.json file to monitor dependencies. Ensure that you do not install any packages that depend on willing_trout_z3n until the issue is resolved.
Conclusion
The willing_trout_z3n package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies to maintain the security of their applications.
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FAQ
willing_trout_z3n is an npm package that has been identified as malicious, associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign.
The vulnerability can lead to the introduction of malicious code, which may compromise the security and integrity of your application.
You should uninstall the willing_trout_z3n package immediately and check for any dependencies that may be affected.
Yes, you can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without needing to sign up.
