Malicious Code Injection in zesty_krill_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-97540: Malicious code in zesty_krill_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The zesty_krill_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate token rewards for developers by generating and publishing derivative packages. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and the security of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's design to automatically generate and publish derivative packages with randomized names. This malicious behavior modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, changing version numbers, and continuously republishing variants, which can lead to pollution of the npm registry and potential exploitation by malicious actors. The presence of autopublish scripts (auto.js, autopublish.js, etc.) further indicates the intent to inflate developer reputation scores fraudulently.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall zesty_krill_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 prevent the installation of the zesty_krill_z3n package by adding it to your project's .npmrc file with the following line: 'package-lock=false'. This will help avoid automatic installations of this malicious package.
Conclusion
The zesty_krill_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses significant risks to developers and the npm ecosystem. Immediate action is required to remove the package and monitor for any potential impacts on your projects. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help maintain the security of your dependencies.
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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 vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and may expose your project to further malicious activities.
You should remove the zesty_krill_z3n package from your project immediately and monitor for any updates or patches.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities using just package-lock.json. Check your application with the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner.
Regularly audit your dependencies, use tools like Vulert for monitoring, and stay updated on security advisories related to the packages you use.
