Malicious Code Injection in relaxed_minnow_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-89920: Malicious code in relaxed_minnow_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The relaxed_minnow_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, often utilized in various JavaScript applications. It is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with numerous packages. This package, like others in the campaign, is designed to manipulate developer reputation scores through automated publishing scripts.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the relaxed_minnow_z3n package stems from its malicious code that modifies the package.json file. It removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of these variants. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly incorporate these compromised packages into their projects. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which incentivizes the creation of such malicious packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall relaxed_minnow_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 the relaxed_minnow_z3n package by adding it to your project's .npmrc file with the following line: package-lock=false. This will help avoid automatic installations of this package until a fix is implemented.
Conclusion
The relaxed_minnow_z3n package contains malicious code that poses a significant risk to developers and their projects. It is crucial to remove this package and monitor your dependencies for similar vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help maintain the security of your applications.
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FAQ
The relaxed_minnow_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which aims to inflate developer reputation scores through automated package publishing.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, removes private flags, and generates random package names, which can lead to security vulnerabilities and pollution of the npm registry.
If you have installed the relaxed_minnow_z3n package, you should uninstall it immediately using the command npm uninstall relaxed_minnow_z3n.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just the package-lock.json file. You can check your application for vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground without any signup.
To prevent similar vulnerabilities, regularly audit your dependencies, use tools like Vulert for monitoring, and stay updated on the latest security advisories related to the packages you use.
