Malicious Code Injection in npm Package: governing_swallow_z3n
Summary
MAL-2025-94730: Malicious code in governing_swallow_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'governing_swallow_z3n' 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 are often used to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. The malicious nature of this package lies in its ability to modify critical files and continuously republish variants, leading to pollution of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'governing_swallow_z3n' originates from its design to include autopublish scripts that manipulate the package.json file. These scripts remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names, which can lead to the proliferation of malicious packages in the npm registry. The ramifications include potential security risks for developers who unknowingly install these packages, as they may contain harmful code or lead to reputation damage within the developer community.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall governing_swallow_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 remove the 'governing_swallow_z3n' package from your project by executing the command: 'npm uninstall governing_swallow_z3n'. This will prevent any malicious code from executing until a fix is applied.
Conclusion
The 'governing_swallow_z3n' package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package files and republish variants. Developers should take immediate action to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can aid in maintaining the security of your applications.
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FAQ
The vulnerability involves malicious code that modifies package.json and republish variants to pollute the npm registry.
You can use Vulert's playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
Using this package can lead to security risks, including the installation of harmful code and damage to your developer reputation.
Regularly updating your dependencies and using tools like Vulert to monitor vulnerabilities can help prevent similar issues.
If you have installed the package, it is crucial to uninstall it immediately and check for any other affected packages in your project.
