Malicious Code Injection in structural_silkworm_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-109214: Malicious code in structural_silkworm_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The structural_silkworm_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. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and the security of applications that depend on it.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from malicious code embedded within the structural_silkworm_z3n package. This code modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of variants. This behavior not only inflates developer reputation scores for token rewards but also pollutes the npm registry, potentially affecting other packages and applications relying on npm.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall structural_silkworm_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a workaround, you can manually remove the structural_silkworm_z3n package from your project by running the command: npm uninstall structural_silkworm_z3n. Additionally, consider using alternative packages that do not exhibit malicious behavior.
Conclusion
The structural_silkworm_z3n package contains malicious code that poses a significant risk to applications using it. Immediate action is required to remove the package and prevent further exploitation. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in monitoring and managing vulnerabilities effectively.
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FAQ
The structural_silkworm_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automatically generate and publish derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, removes private flags, and continuously republishes variants, which can lead to security vulnerabilities and pollution of the npm registry.
You should uninstall the structural_silkworm_z3n package immediately and monitor for any updates or patches that may address this vulnerability.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities using just package-lock.json. You can check your application for vulnerabilities without any signup at the Vulert playground.
Regularly audit your dependencies, use tools like Vulert for real-time monitoring, and stay updated with the latest security advisories for the packages you use.
