Malicious Code Injection in Tired Worm Z3N Package
Summary
MAL-2025-97027: Malicious code in tired_worm_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The 'tired_worm_z3n' package 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 linked to a series of malicious activities aimed at inflating developer reputation scores. The package is designed to automate the generation and publication of derivative packages, which can lead to significant pollution of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the 'tired_worm_z3n' package originates from its malicious code that modifies the package.json file. This code removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, primarily themed around Indonesian culture. The continuous republishing of these variants can lead to a polluted npm registry, making it difficult for developers to find legitimate packages. The malicious payload poses risks such as reputation damage for developers and potential security threats for applications relying on these packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall tired_worm_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 'tired_worm_z3n' package from your project by executing the command: 'npm uninstall tired_worm_z3n'. This will prevent any malicious code from executing while you assess the situation.
Conclusion
The 'tired_worm_z3n' package contains malicious code that poses significant risks to developers and their applications. It is essential to take immediate action by updating or removing the package and monitoring your project for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert.
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FAQ
The 'tired_worm_z3n' package is an npm package associated with a token reward campaign that has been identified as malicious.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, potentially leading to security vulnerabilities and pollution of the npm registry.
If you have installed the 'tired_worm_z3n' package, it is crucial to uninstall it immediately and check for any updates or patches.
Yes, you can use Vulert to monitor your project for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. It requires only your package-lock.json file.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
