Malicious Code Injection in slippery_quelea_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-96628: Malicious code in slippery_quelea_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The slippery_quelea_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, often utilized in JavaScript projects for various functionalities. However, it has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with derivative packages. This package is designed to inflate developer reputation scores through automated publishing scripts, which can lead to significant security risks.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's involvement in the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which employs autopublish scripts to generate and publish numerous derivative packages with randomized names. This malicious behavior modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and continuously republishing variants, ultimately polluting the npm registry. The ramifications include potential exposure of sensitive data and the risk of dependency confusion attacks, where legitimate packages may be overshadowed by these malicious variants.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall slippery_quelea_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 slippery_quelea_z3n package from your project by executing: npm uninstall slippery_quelea_z3n. This will prevent any malicious code from executing in your application until a secure version is available.
Conclusion
The slippery_quelea_z3n package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code injection capabilities. It is essential to take immediate action by uninstalling the package and monitoring for updates. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help maintain the security of your applications against such vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
slippery_quelea_z3n is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to inflate developer reputation scores through automated publishing.
The vulnerability can lead to the introduction of malicious code into your application, potentially compromising sensitive data and affecting the integrity of your software.
If you have slippery_quelea_z3n installed, you should uninstall it immediately and monitor for any updates or patches from the package maintainers.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities using just your package-lock.json file. You can check if your application is affected by this vulnerability using the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner.
To prevent future vulnerabilities, regularly audit your dependencies, keep them updated, and utilize tools like Vulert for real-time monitoring.
