Malicious Code Injection in mental_sole_z3n: npm Package Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-95447: Malicious code in mental_sole_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The 'mental_sole_z3n' package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with malicious packages. These packages often contain scripts that automatically generate and publish derivative packages, affecting the integrity of the npm ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'mental_sole_z3n' originates from its association with a malicious campaign that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior is designed to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards, leading to pollution of the npm registry. The malicious payload can compromise the security of applications relying on this package, potentially allowing unauthorized access or manipulation.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall mental_sole_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 prevent the installation of this package by using npm's package-lock.json to monitor dependencies. Ensure that your project does not include 'mental_sole_z3n' in its dependencies. You can also use the following command to audit your project for vulnerabilities: 'npm audit'.
Conclusion
The 'mental_sole_z3n' package poses a significant risk due to its malicious behavior aimed at manipulating the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to be vigilant and remove any instances of this package from their projects. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in monitoring and managing vulnerabilities effectively.
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FAQ
The 'mental_sole_z3n' package is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores through the automatic generation of derivative packages.
This vulnerability can compromise the integrity of your application by allowing unauthorized modifications and potentially exposing sensitive data.
If you have installed 'mental_sole_z3n', you should uninstall it immediately using 'npm uninstall mental_sole_z3n' and check for any affected dependencies.
Yes, you can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access or installation.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
