Malicious Code Injection in 'sensible_bass_z3n' Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-96517: Malicious code in sensible_bass_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The 'sensible_bass_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 the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the malicious intent behind the 'sensible_bass_z3n' package, 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 relying on the integrity of npm packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall sensible_bass_z3n
If 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 'sensible_bass_z3n' package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The 'sensible_bass_z3n' package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that manipulates the npm registry. It is essential to remove this package from your project and monitor your dependencies for any vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity and security of your software.
See every vulnerability recorded for sensible_bass_z3n →
FAQ
The 'sensible_bass_z3n' package is an npm package that has been identified as malicious, designed to manipulate the npm registry for token reward purposes.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, potentially affecting the integrity of your project and introducing security risks.
If you have installed the 'sensible_bass_z3n' package, you should uninstall it immediately using 'npm uninstall sensible_bass_z3n' and review your dependencies.
There are no patches available for the 'sensible_bass_z3n' package, as it is recommended to remove it entirely from your project.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. You can check your application for vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground without any signup.