Malicious Code Injection in labour_louse_z3n Package: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-95186: Malicious code in labour_louse_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The labour_louse_z3n package is part of a series of npm packages that emerged during the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to automate the generation and publication of derivative packages, often with randomized names, to artificially inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. This behavior poses a significant risk to the integrity of the npm registry and the developers who rely on it.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the labour_louse_z3n package originates from its malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially compromising the security of dependent projects. The malicious scripts included in the package (such as auto.js and autopublish.js) automate these harmful actions, making it difficult for developers to detect and mitigate the issue.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall labour_louse_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 labour_louse_z3n package and any other packages that may be part of the tea.xyz token reward campaign. Regularly audit your npm packages using tools like npm audit to identify and address vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The labour_louse_z3n package poses a significant threat to the npm ecosystem due to its malicious behavior of modifying package files and republishing variants. It is crucial for developers to be vigilant and remove any affected packages to maintain the security of their projects.
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FAQ
The labour_louse_z3n package is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores through automated package publishing.
This vulnerability can compromise the integrity of your project by introducing malicious code that modifies your package.json file and republishing variants, potentially leading to security risks.
If you have installed the labour_louse_z3n package, you should uninstall it immediately using npm uninstall labour_louse_z3n and audit your project for any other affected packages.
You can use tools like npm audit to scan your project for vulnerabilities. Additionally, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using your package-lock.json.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
