Malicious Code Injection in yelling_alpaca_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-97493: Malicious code in yelling_alpaca_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The yelling_alpaca_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package, like others in the campaign, is designed to inflate developer reputation scores by automatically generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names. It is primarily used for token rewards within the tea protocol, but its malicious behavior poses significant risks to developers and the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the yelling_alpaca_z3n package originates from its inclusion in a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with derivative packages. The malicious code modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but also compromises the security and reliability of applications that depend on this package. Developers using this package may unknowingly expose their applications to further vulnerabilities and malicious attacks.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall yelling_alpaca_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 temporarily remove the yelling_alpaca_z3n package from your project until a secure version is released. Use the following command to uninstall the package: npm uninstall yelling_alpaca_z3n.
Conclusion
The yelling_alpaca_z3n package is associated with a malicious campaign that compromises the security of applications using it. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help maintain the security of your applications.
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FAQ
yelling_alpaca_z3n is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores through the creation of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the injection of malicious code into your application, potentially compromising its security and integrity.
You should uninstall the yelling_alpaca_z3n package immediately and monitor for any updates or patches that may address the vulnerability.
Yes, you can use tools like Vulert, which monitors and alerts you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just package-lock.json.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
