Malicious Code Injection in severe_silverfish_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-96537: Malicious code in severe_silverfish_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The severe_silverfish_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, primarily used for JavaScript development. It is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with packages that inflate developer reputation scores. This package, like others in the campaign, is designed to automatically publish derivative packages with altered names and metadata, making it susceptible to malicious exploitation.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the severe_silverfish_z3n package originates from its involvement in a malicious campaign that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags and change version numbers. This allows the package to generate random names and continuously republish variants, polluting the npm registry. The malicious payload can lead to reputation damage for developers and potential security risks for applications relying on these packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall severe_silverfish_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 remove the severe_silverfish_z3n package from your project by executing the command: 'npm uninstall severe_silverfish_z3n'. This will prevent any malicious code from executing until a secure version is available.
Conclusion
The severe_silverfish_z3n package contains a significant vulnerability due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is crucial to update or remove this package to protect your application from potential threats. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help monitor for such vulnerabilities effectively.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, known for flooding the npm registry with malicious packages.
The malicious code modifies package metadata, potentially leading to security vulnerabilities and reputation damage for developers.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. Visit Vulert Scanner to check your application without any signup.
As a temporary measure, you can uninstall the package to prevent any malicious activity until a secure version is available.
You can refer to the npm registry and security advisories, as well as tools like Vulert for real-time monitoring.
