Malicious Code Vulnerability in original_swallow_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-89325: Malicious code in original_swallow_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
The original_swallow_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, often with randomized names. Its primary functionality revolves around enhancing developer reputation scores through the publication of numerous variants, which can lead to significant pollution of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the original_swallow_z3n package stems from its malicious payload that modifies the package.json file by removing private flags and altering version numbers. It generates random package names, often themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants. This behavior not only compromises the integrity of the npm registry but also poses risks to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages, leading to potential security breaches and reputational damage.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall original_swallow_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, you can prevent the installation of the original_swallow_z3n package by using the following command: npm uninstall original_swallow_z3n. Additionally, consider using npm audit to identify and address any other vulnerabilities in your project.
Conclusion
The original_swallow_z3n package contains a serious vulnerability that can compromise the integrity of the npm registry and pose risks to developers. It is crucial to remove this package from your project and monitor for any further vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert.
See every vulnerability recorded for original_swallow_z3n →
FAQ
The original_swallow_z3n package is an npm package involved in the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to publish numerous derivative packages to inflate developer reputation scores.
This vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and may introduce security risks if compromised packages are inadvertently used in your project.
You should uninstall the original_swallow_z3n package immediately and monitor your project for any other vulnerabilities using npm audit.
Yes, you can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring any 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.
