Malicious Code Injection in unknown_snail_z3n Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-110155: Malicious code in unknown_snail_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The unknown_snail_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, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's design to include autopublish scripts that modify the package.json file by removing private flags and changing version numbers. It generates random package names, often themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants, leading to pollution of the npm registry. This behavior can result in security risks, including the potential for unauthorized access to sensitive information and the degradation of the npm ecosystem's reliability.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall unknown_snail_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 avoid using the unknown_snail_z3n package and monitor your project for any dependencies that may inadvertently include it. Regularly audit your package-lock.json file to identify any potentially malicious packages.
Conclusion
The unknown_snail_z3n package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package configurations and repopulates the npm registry with potentially harmful variants. It is crucial to remove this package from your projects and monitor for any dependencies that may include it.
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FAQ
The unknown_snail_z3n package is an npm package associated with a token reward campaign that has been identified to contain malicious code.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, removes private flags, and can lead to unauthorized republishing of your packages, compromising your project's integrity.
You can use Vulert, which monitors vulnerabilities in your package-lock.json file. Visit Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without needing to sign up.
If you find the unknown_snail_z3n package in your dependencies, you should uninstall it immediately using the command: npm uninstall unknown_snail_z3n.
There are no patches available for the unknown_snail_z3n package as it is recommended to remove it entirely from your project.
