Malicious Code Injection in slimy_hookworm_z3n: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-96624: Malicious code in slimy_hookworm_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package slimy_hookworm_z3n is part of the npm ecosystem and appears to be associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This campaign has been known to flood the npm registry with packages that contain malicious scripts. These scripts are designed to manipulate package metadata and inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in slimy_hookworm_z3n originates from malicious code that modifies the package.json file. This code removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, which leads to the continuous republishing of these variants. The ramifications include pollution of the npm registry, potential security risks for developers using these packages, and a compromised reputation system within the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall slimy_hookworm_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 slimy_hookworm_z3n and any packages that may depend on it. Additionally, consider using npm audit to identify and address vulnerabilities in your project.
Conclusion
The slimy_hookworm_z3n package poses a significant threat due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their projects for vulnerabilities to maintain security and integrity.
See every vulnerability recorded for slimy_hookworm_z3n →
FAQ
slimy_hookworm_z3n is an npm package that has been identified as containing malicious code aimed at manipulating package metadata.
This vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and may compromise the security of your project by introducing untrusted code.
You should remove the package from your project immediately and check for any dependencies that may have been affected.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access or installation.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
