Malicious Code Injection in xenogeneic_manatee_z3n: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-111112: Malicious code in xenogeneic_manatee_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'xenogeneic_manatee_z3n' is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that aims to exploit the npm registry by flooding it with derivative packages. These packages are designed to inflate developer reputation scores through automated publishing scripts, which can lead to significant pollution of the npm registry and compromise the integrity of the ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'xenogeneic_manatee_z3n' originates from its association with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. The malicious code embedded within the package modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. This behavior not only affects the affected package but also contributes to the overall degradation of the npm registry by continuously republishing variants, making it difficult for developers to trust the integrity of packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall xenogeneic_manatee_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 avoid using the 'xenogeneic_manatee_z3n' package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can monitor your project for any unauthorized changes to the package.json file.
Conclusion
The 'xenogeneic_manatee_z3n' package poses a significant threat 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 projects for vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can aid in maintaining the security of your applications.
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FAQ
The main issue is that it contains malicious code that modifies package.json and floods the npm registry with derivative packages.
You can use Vulert to monitor your application for vulnerabilities. With Vulert, you can check your package-lock.json file to see if your application is affected without requiring any installation.
If you have installed the 'xenogeneic_manatee_z3n' package, you should uninstall it immediately using 'npm uninstall xenogeneic_manatee_z3n'.
Yes, you should look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality but do not have known vulnerabilities.
Vulert helps by monitoring your package-lock.json file for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time, alerting you to any issues without requiring access to your code or installation.
