Malicious Code Injection in frantic_silkworm_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-94599: Malicious code in frantic_silkworm_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The frantic_silkworm_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, often utilized in various JavaScript applications. It is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with numerous derivative packages. This package, like others in the campaign, is designed to manipulate developer reputation scores by automatically generating and publishing packages with randomized names.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in frantic_silkworm_z3n stems from its malicious code that modifies the package.json file. It removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of these variants. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly install these compromised packages, potentially leading to further exploitation or data breaches.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall frantic_silkworm_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 avoid using the frantic_silkworm_z3n package altogether and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The frantic_silkworm_z3n package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their applications for vulnerabilities to maintain security and integrity.
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FAQ
frantic_silkworm_z3n is an npm package that is part of a campaign to manipulate developer reputation scores by flooding the npm registry with malicious packages.
If your application uses the frantic_silkworm_z3n package, it may inadvertently publish malicious variants to the npm registry, compromising your project's integrity and security.
You should uninstall the frantic_silkworm_z3n package immediately and check for any other affected packages in your project.
Yes, tools like Vulert can monitor your project for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just the 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.
