Malicious Code Injection in working_takin_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-97408: Malicious code in working_takin_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The working_takin_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that modifies package metadata and publishes harmful variants.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the malicious intent behind the working_takin_z3n package, which includes scripts that alter the package.json file. These changes remove private flags, modify version numbers, and generate random package names, leading to pollution of the npm registry. The ramifications include potential security risks for developers who unknowingly use these packages, as well as damage to the integrity of the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall working_takin_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 working_takin_z3n package altogether. If it is already in use, consider replacing it with a reputable alternative that does not have known vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The working_takin_z3n package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and publishes harmful variants. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their projects for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies package metadata, potentially leading to security vulnerabilities and pollution of the npm registry.
You should remove the working_takin_z3n package from your project and replace it with a secure 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 for vulnerabilities without needing to sign up.
