Malicious Code Injection in combined_catfish_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-93642: Malicious code in combined_catfish_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The combined_catfish_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 and the security of the npm registry.
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 and continuously republishes variants, leading to pollution of the npm registry. This malicious behavior can result in the distribution of compromised packages, potentially affecting users who unknowingly install these variants.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall combined_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 remove the combined_catfish_z3n package from your project by executing the following command: npm uninstall combined_catfish_z3n. This will prevent any malicious code from executing until a secure version is available.
Conclusion
The combined_catfish_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses a significant risk to users and the npm ecosystem. It is crucial to take immediate action by updating or uninstalling the package to mitigate potential threats.
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FAQ
The combined_catfish_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the generation and publication of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the installation of compromised packages, which may contain malicious code that can affect your application's security and integrity.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. By using the Vulert playground, you can check if your application is affected without any signup.
If you cannot update the package, it is advisable to uninstall it as a temporary measure to prevent any potential exploitation of the vulnerability.
More information can be found in the vulnerability report on the npm registry or by checking security advisories related to the combined_catfish_z3n package.
