Malicious Code Vulnerability in drab_limpet_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-94106: Malicious code in drab_limpet_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The drab_limpet_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. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the malicious intent behind the drab_limpet_z3n package, which includes scripts that modify the package.json file to remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants that pollute the npm registry, posing risks to developers and users relying on the integrity of npm packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall drab_limpet_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a workaround, you can avoid using the drab_limpet_z3n package altogether and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The drab_limpet_z3n package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is essential to remove this package and monitor your projects for vulnerabilities to maintain security and integrity.
See every vulnerability recorded for drab_limpet_z3n →
FAQ
drab_limpet_z3n is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the generation and publication of packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, potentially causing conflicts and security issues in your application due to the presence of malicious packages.
You should uninstall the drab_limpet_z3n package immediately and check for any other affected packages in your project.
There is no patch for the drab_limpet_z3n package as it is recommended to remove it entirely from your project.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just your package-lock.json file. You can check your application for vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner.
