Malicious Code Injection in slow_toad_z3n: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-90693: Malicious code in slow_toad_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package slow_toad_z3n is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. It is designed to facilitate the development and distribution of JavaScript applications. However, this package has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that aims to exploit the npm registry by generating and publishing derivative packages with harmful scripts.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in slow_toad_z3n originates from its association with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has led to the proliferation of malicious packages in the npm registry. The malicious code within this package modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, thereby polluting the npm registry and potentially compromising the integrity of other packages. This can lead to severe ramifications, including the loss of developer reputation and the introduction of security risks into dependent applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall slow_toad_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 prevent the installation of this malicious package by using npm's package-lock.json to lock your dependencies. Additionally, consider using the following command to audit your dependencies for vulnerabilities: npm audit.
Conclusion
The slow_toad_z3n package poses a significant threat to the npm ecosystem due to its malicious code designed to exploit the registry. It is crucial for developers to be vigilant and take immediate action to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
slow_toad_z3n is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to exploit the npm registry.
The vulnerability can lead to the introduction of malicious code into your application, potentially compromising its security and integrity.
You should remove the slow_toad_z3n package from your project immediately and monitor for any updates or patches.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
