Malicious Code Injection in absent_catfish_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-93073: Malicious code in absent_catfish_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The absent_catfish_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. It is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages. This package, like others in the campaign, aims to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards, but it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the absent_catfish_z3n package stems from its inclusion in a malicious campaign that employs autopublish scripts to modify package.json files. These scripts remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of variants. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses risks to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages, potentially leading to security breaches and loss of reputation.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall absent_catfish_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 absent_catfish_z3n package and monitor your project for any dependencies that may indirectly include it. Regularly audit your package-lock.json file to identify and remove any malicious packages.
Conclusion
The absent_catfish_z3n package is compromised by malicious code that can significantly impact developers and the npm ecosystem. Immediate action is required to remove this package and safeguard your projects. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in monitoring for such vulnerabilities in real-time.
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FAQ
The impact includes potential security breaches, pollution of the npm registry, and damage to developer reputation due to the use of compromised packages.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just your package-lock.json. Visit Vulert Scanner to check your application without any signup.
If you have used this package, it is crucial to uninstall it immediately and review your project for any other potentially compromised dependencies.
Currently, there are no patches available for the absent_catfish_z3n package. The best course of action is to remove it from your project.
To prevent similar vulnerabilities, regularly audit your dependencies, use tools like Vulert for monitoring, and only use packages from trusted sources.
