Malicious Code Injection in round_swordtail_z3n Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-96413: Malicious code in round_swordtail_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The round_swordtail_z3n package is part of a series of malicious packages that emerged during the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to inflate developer reputation scores by automatically generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names. The malicious nature of this package lies in its ability to modify critical files and republish itself, leading to potential abuse within the npm ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's malicious code, which alters the package.json file by removing private flags and changing 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 dependency confusion attacks and the compromise of developer environments.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall round_swordtail_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 avoid using the round_swordtail_z3n package and replace it with a trusted alternative that provides similar functionality. Always ensure to audit your dependencies regularly to identify any malicious packages.
Conclusion
The round_swordtail_z3n package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters critical project files and repopulates itself in the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for similar vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
It is a malicious npm package that was part of a campaign to inflate developer reputation scores by automatically publishing derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the modification of your project's package.json file, potentially compromising your environment and introducing security risks.
You should uninstall the package immediately using 'npm uninstall round_swordtail_z3n' and check your package-lock.json for any references to it.
Yes, tools like Vulert can monitor your package-lock.json for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access or installation.
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