Malicious Code Injection in mobile_snipe_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-105924: Malicious code in mobile_snipe_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The mobile_snipe_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, typically used for mobile application development. However, it has been identified as a malicious package involved in a token reward campaign that exploits npm's publishing system. This package is designed to inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages with randomized names.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the malicious intent behind the mobile_snipe_z3n package, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags and alters version numbers. It generates random package names, often themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants to pollute the npm registry. This behavior can lead to significant security risks, including the potential for code injection and unauthorized access to systems using this package.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall mobile_snipe_z3n
If 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 mobile_snipe_z3n package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can monitor your package-lock.json file using tools like Vulert to detect any vulnerabilities in real-time.
Conclusion
The mobile_snipe_z3n package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious behavior of modifying package files and republishing variants. It is essential to remove this package and monitor your project for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert to ensure the security of your applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for mobile_snipe_z3n →
FAQ
The mobile_snipe_z3n package is an npm package that has been identified as malicious, involved in a scheme to inflate developer reputation scores through automated publishing.
The vulnerability can lead to unauthorized modifications of your package.json file, potentially allowing malicious code to be executed within your application.
If you have installed the mobile_snipe_z3n package, it is crucial to remove it immediately and check for any other affected packages in your project.
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 if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.