Malicious Code Vulnerability in conservative_slug_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-100870: Malicious code in conservative_slug_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The conservative_slug_z3n package is part of a series of npm packages that have been linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to manipulate the npm registry by automatically generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names. This behavior is intended to inflate developer reputation scores for rewards associated with the tea protocol.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the conservative_slug_z3n package stems from its malicious code, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This leads to the continuous republishing of variants, resulting in pollution of the npm registry. The origin of this vulnerability is tied to the broader issue of malicious packages flooding the npm ecosystem, specifically targeting developers looking to exploit token reward systems.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall conservative_slug_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 this package by using npm's package-lock.json to monitor dependencies. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to check for vulnerabilities in your project. You can run the following command to remove the package: npm uninstall conservative_slug_z3n.
Conclusion
The conservative_slug_z3n package contains malicious code that poses a significant risk to developers and their projects. It is crucial to remove this package and monitor for similar vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert to maintain the integrity of your software.
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FAQ
It is an npm package that is part of the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to manipulate the npm registry.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, removes private flags, and generates random package names, leading to potential security risks and pollution of the npm registry.
You should uninstall the conservative_slug_z3n package immediately and check for any other affected packages in your project.
You can use Vulert to monitor your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities in real-time without needing to install any additional software.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
