Malicious Code Vulnerability in clean_cardinal_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-100584: Malicious code in clean_cardinal_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The clean_cardinal_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 generation and publication of derivative packages, which are often used to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and the security of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the clean_cardinal_z3n package originates from its involvement in a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with derivative packages. The malicious payload modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly install these compromised packages, leading to potential security breaches in their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall clean_cardinal_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 clean_cardinal_z3n package from your project by executing the following command: npm uninstall clean_cardinal_z3n. This will prevent any malicious code from executing until a patched version is available.
Conclusion
The clean_cardinal_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses a significant risk to developers and the npm ecosystem. It is crucial to take immediate action by updating or uninstalling the package to safeguard your applications from potential security threats.
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FAQ
The clean_cardinal_z3n package is an npm package involved in the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the installation of compromised packages that may contain malicious code, potentially compromising the security of your application.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. Visit Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without needing to sign up.
If immediate updates are not possible, consider uninstalling the package as a temporary workaround to prevent any malicious activity.
Detailed information about this vulnerability can be found in the vulnerability report provided by Amazon Inspector and other security advisories.
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