Malicious Code Injection in supreme_earthworm_z3n: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-109326: Malicious code in supreme_earthworm_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package supreme_earthworm_z3n is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with malicious packages. These packages are designed to inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, making them a significant threat to the integrity of the npm ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in supreme_earthworm_z3n originates from its malicious payload that modifies the package.json file. It removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, primarily themed around Indonesian culture. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially compromising other packages and applications that depend on it.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall supreme_earthworm_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 package by using the following command to uninstall it: npm uninstall supreme_earthworm_z3n. Additionally, consider using npm audit to identify and address other vulnerabilities in your project.
Conclusion
The supreme_earthworm_z3n package poses a significant threat due to its malicious behavior aimed at manipulating the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remain vigilant, remove any affected packages, and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in their projects.
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FAQ
supreme_earthworm_z3n is an npm package that has been identified as malicious, associated with a campaign to inflate developer reputation scores.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, potentially compromising other packages and applications that rely on npm for dependencies.
If you have installed supreme_earthworm_z3n, you should uninstall it immediately using the command: npm uninstall supreme_earthworm_z3n.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file for open-source 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.
