Malicious Code Injection in skilled_swordtail_z3n: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-90682: Malicious code in skilled_swordtail_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The skilled_swordtail_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, often utilized for various JavaScript applications. It is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with numerous packages. This package, like others in its category, is designed to manipulate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in skilled_swordtail_z3n arises from the presence of malicious code that modifies the package.json file. This code removes private flags, alters version numbers, and creates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of these variants. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which incentivizes the creation of such packages to inflate reputation scores. The ramifications include potential pollution of the npm registry, making it difficult for developers to find legitimate packages and increasing the risk of dependency confusion attacks.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall skilled_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 skilled_swordtail_z3n package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, regularly audit your npm packages using tools like npm audit to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The skilled_swordtail_z3n package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and repopulates the npm registry with potentially harmful variants. It is essential to remove this package and monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of your projects.
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FAQ
skilled_swordtail_z3n is an npm package that is part of a campaign to inflate developer reputation scores by automatically generating and publishing derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, potentially leading to the pollution of the npm registry and making it difficult to manage dependencies.
You should uninstall the skilled_swordtail_z3n package immediately using the command npm uninstall skilled_swordtail_z3n.
Yes, tools like Vulert can monitor your package-lock.json file to alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities.
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