Malicious Code Injection in Boiling Shrimp Z3N Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-93410: Malicious code in boiling_shrimp_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The 'boiling_shrimp_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 scripts that compromise its integrity and the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability stems from the presence of malicious code within the 'boiling_shrimp_z3n' package. This code modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. The malicious payload continuously republishes these variants, leading to pollution of the npm registry and potential exploitation by attackers. This can result in unauthorized access to sensitive data or the execution of harmful scripts in dependent applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall boiling_shrimp_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 'boiling_shrimp_z3n' package by adding it to your project's .npmignore file or by using the following command to uninstall it: npm uninstall boiling_shrimp_z3n.
Conclusion
The 'boiling_shrimp_z3n' package poses a significant security risk due to the presence of malicious code that alters package metadata and republishing behavior. It is crucial to remove this package from your projects and monitor for any updates or patches. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help maintain the security of your applications by providing real-time vulnerability alerts.
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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 malicious code can modify your package.json, remove private flags, and republish variants, potentially leading to security vulnerabilities in your application.
You should uninstall the 'boiling_shrimp_z3n' package immediately and monitor your application for any unusual behavior.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just 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 any signup.
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