Malicious Code Injection in relieved_mouse_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-89925: Malicious code in relieved_mouse_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The relieved_mouse_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 various packages. The primary function of such packages is to facilitate token rewards by manipulating developer reputation scores. However, the presence of malicious scripts within these packages poses significant risks to users and their applications.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the relieved_mouse_z3n package originates from its malicious code designed to manipulate package.json files. This code removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, contributing to the pollution of the npm registry. The ramifications include potential exposure of sensitive information, unauthorized package modifications, and the risk of installing compromised packages that could lead to further security breaches.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall relieved_mouse_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, you can avoid using the relieved_mouse_z3n package and any other packages associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. Regularly audit your package dependencies using tools like npm audit to identify and address vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The relieved_mouse_z3n package contains malicious code that poses significant risks to applications using it. It is crucial to remove this package and monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help maintain the security of your projects.
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FAQ
The relieved_mouse_z3n package is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores for token rewards.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, potentially exposing sensitive information and allowing unauthorized changes to your project.
You should uninstall the relieved_mouse_z3n package immediately and audit your project for any other potentially malicious dependencies.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file to alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
