Malicious Code Injection in slimy_snake_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-90689: Malicious code in slimy_snake_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The slimy_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 security of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the slimy_snake_z3n package originates from its inclusion in a campaign that floods the npm registry with malicious packages. The malicious code modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. This results in the continuous republishing of variants, which pollutes the npm registry and can lead to security risks for developers and users relying on these packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall slimy_snake_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 slimy_snake_z3n package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can monitor your project for any unauthorized changes to package.json.
Conclusion
The slimy_snake_z3n package contains malicious code that poses a significant risk to developers and users in the npm ecosystem. It is crucial to remove this package from your projects and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in real-time.
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FAQ
The slimy_snake_z3n package is an npm package linked to a token reward campaign that generates and publishes derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json, potentially leading to unauthorized package republishing and security vulnerabilities.
You should uninstall the slimy_snake_z3n package immediately using the command: npm uninstall slimy_snake_z3n.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just package-lock.json.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
