beneficial_louse_z3n (npm) · Malicious Code
Affects beneficial_louse_z3nSource GCVE Database
Malicious package : remove beneficial_louse_z3n and rotate any secrets on hosts that installed it.
Data as of 8 Nov 2026, 15:55 UTC
Malicious package
Published to npm · OSV MAL-2025-55401
What to do
Remove beneficial_louse_z3n from every project, lockfile and image that pulls it in. Treat any host that installed it as compromised: rotate the credentials, tokens and keys it could read, from a clean machine.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| npmbeneficial_louse_z3n | Affected– | Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
Description
The beneficial_louse_z3n npm package is part of a token reward campaign flooding the npm registry with malicious packages. These packages contain autopublish scripts that automatically generate and publish derivative packages with randomized Indonesian-themed names. The malicious payload modifies package.json files to remove private flags and change version numbers, enabling continuous republishing of variants to inflate developer reputation scores and pollute the npm ecosystem.