Malicious Code Injection in yearning_boar_z3n Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-111271: Malicious code in yearning_boar_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The yearning_boar_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 compromises its integrity.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the yearning_boar_z3n package stems from its malicious payload 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, polluting the npm registry and potentially affecting other developers by inflating reputation scores fraudulently. The malicious code is part of a broader scheme to exploit the npm ecosystem for token rewards.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall yearning_boar_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 monitor your package dependencies and ensure that you are not using any packages associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. Regularly audit your npm packages using the command: npm audit.
Conclusion
The yearning_boar_z3n package contains malicious code that compromises the integrity of npm projects. It is crucial to remove this package and monitor your dependencies to maintain a secure development environment. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in identifying and mitigating such vulnerabilities effectively.
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FAQ
The yearning_boar_z3n package is an npm package that is part of a token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages automatically.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, removes private flags, and generates random package names, which can lead to pollution of the npm registry and affect your project's integrity.
The best way to fix this vulnerability is to uninstall the yearning_boar_z3n package from your project, as there is no patched version available.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities using just your package-lock.json file.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
