Malicious Code Injection in worldwide_sloth_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-111004: Malicious code in worldwide_sloth_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The worldwide_sloth_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 scripts that compromise its integrity and the security of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the inclusion of malicious code within the worldwide_sloth_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 these variants. The ramifications include pollution of the npm registry, potential security risks for developers using the package, and a compromised reputation system within the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall worldwide_sloth_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 monitor your project's dependencies using tools like Vulert. By utilizing the Vulert playground at https://vulert.com/scanner, you can check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
Conclusion
The worldwide_sloth_z3n package poses a significant security risk due to the presence of malicious code that alters package metadata and pollutes the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to uninstall this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
The worldwide_sloth_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the publication of derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, removes private flags, and generates random package names, which can lead to security vulnerabilities and pollution of the npm registry.
You should uninstall the worldwide_sloth_z3n package immediately using the command: npm uninstall worldwide_sloth_z3n.
Yes, you can use Vulert to monitor your project's dependencies for vulnerabilities in real-time by checking 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 needing to sign up.
