Malicious Code Injection in yielding_buzzard_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-111295: Malicious code in yielding_buzzard_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The yielding_buzzard_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 are intended to inflate developer reputation scores for rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the yielding_buzzard_z3n package stems from its malicious payload that modifies the package.json file. It removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, which can lead to the pollution of the npm registry. This behavior can significantly affect developers by inflating reputation scores fraudulently and potentially introducing security risks into their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall yielding_buzzard_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 remove the yielding_buzzard_z3n package from your project by executing the following command: npm uninstall yielding_buzzard_z3n. This will prevent any malicious code from executing in your application until a patch is available.
Conclusion
The yielding_buzzard_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses a significant risk to developers and the integrity of the npm registry. It is essential to take immediate action by uninstalling the package and monitoring for updates. Utilizing tools like Vulert can aid in the proactive management of open-source vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
The yielding_buzzard_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the generation and publication of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the modification of your package.json file, potentially introducing security risks and polluting the npm registry with malicious packages.
If you have installed the yielding_buzzard_z3n package, it is crucial to uninstall it immediately and monitor for any updates or patches.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities using just your package-lock.json file. You can check your application at Vulert Scanner without any signup.
Regularly updating your dependencies, using tools like Vulert for monitoring, and conducting security audits can help mitigate the risk of vulnerabilities.
