Malicious Code Injection in impressed_swordfish_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-104019: Malicious code in impressed_swordfish_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The impressed_swordfish_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. However, it has been identified as containing malicious scripts that compromise the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's inclusion in a campaign that floods the npm registry with malicious packages. It contains scripts that modify the package.json file to remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names. This behavior not only inflates developer reputation scores but also pollutes the npm registry with potentially harmful packages, leading to security risks for users who may unknowingly install these variants.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall impressed_swordfish_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, you can avoid using the impressed_swordfish_z3n package and any packages that depend on it. Monitor your package-lock.json file for any unexpected changes or additions that may indicate the presence of malicious packages.
Conclusion
The impressed_swordfish_z3n package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is crucial to remove this package and monitor your dependencies for any vulnerabilities to maintain the security of your project.
See every vulnerability recorded for impressed_swordfish_z3n →
FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the installation of malicious packages that compromise your project's integrity and security.
You should immediately uninstall the package using 'npm uninstall impressed_swordfish_z3n' and check your project for any other affected dependencies.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file for vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access or installation.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities in your application without any signup.
