Malicious Code Vulnerability in ruling_snake_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-90329: Malicious code in ruling_snake_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 ruling_snake_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, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the ruling_snake_z3n package originates from its malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants that pollute the npm registry, potentially affecting other developers and users by inflating the number of packages and degrading the quality of the registry.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall ruling_snake_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 remove the ruling_snake_z3n package from your project to prevent any malicious activity. Use the following command: npm uninstall ruling_snake_z3n.
Conclusion
The ruling_snake_z3n package contains a significant vulnerability that can lead to malicious activities within the npm ecosystem. It is crucial for developers to take immediate action by updating or removing the package to safeguard their projects and maintain the integrity of the npm registry.
See every vulnerability recorded for ruling_snake_z3n →
FAQ
The ruling_snake_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, affecting the quality and reliability of packages available to developers.
You should uninstall the ruling_snake_z3n package immediately and monitor your project for any potential impacts.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities using just your package-lock.json file.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without any signup.
