Malicious Code Injection in Zonal Pike Z3N Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-97548: Malicious code in zonal_pike_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The 'zonal_pike_z3n' package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been linked to a series of malicious activities aimed at inflating developer reputation scores through automated publishing scripts. The package's functionality has been compromised, making it a vector for malicious code.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the 'zonal_pike_z3n' package originates from its association with a malicious campaign that employs scripts to automatically generate and publish derivative packages with randomized names. These scripts modify the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and creating random package names, which leads to pollution of the npm registry. The ramifications include potential security risks for developers who unknowingly use these compromised packages, as well as damage to the integrity of the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall zonal_pike_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 'zonal_pike_z3n' package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can use the following command to uninstall the package: npm uninstall zonal_pike_z3n.
Conclusion
The 'zonal_pike_z3n' package is compromised due to its association with a malicious campaign that modifies package metadata and publishes harmful derivatives. It is essential for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain the security of their applications.
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FAQ
The 'zonal_pike_z3n' package is an npm package that has been linked to a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores.
Using the compromised 'zonal_pike_z3n' package can expose your project to security risks and potentially compromise the integrity of your application.
If you have installed the 'zonal_pike_z3n' package, it is crucial to uninstall it immediately and check for alternative packages.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in your software by analyzing 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.
