Malicious Code Injection in applicable_roundworm_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-99523: Malicious code in applicable_roundworm_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The applicable_roundworm_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 can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and the security of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the applicable_roundworm_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, leading to the continuous republishing of variants that pollute the npm registry. This behavior can result in a compromised development environment, increased risk of dependency confusion, and potential exploitation by attackers.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall applicable_roundworm_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 applicable_roundworm_z3n package by adding it to your npm ignore list or using a package manager that allows you to lock down dependencies to known safe versions.
Conclusion
The applicable_roundworm_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 crucial to uninstall this package and monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain a secure development environment.
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FAQ
It 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 pollution of the npm registry and compromise your project's security by introducing malicious code.
You should uninstall the applicable_roundworm_z3n package immediately and check your package-lock.json for any references to it.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software by analyzing your package-lock.json file.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
