Malicious Code Injection in cuddly_moth_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-93876: Malicious code in cuddly_moth_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The cuddly_moth_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, typically used for various JavaScript applications. It has been identified as part of a larger scheme related to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been flooding the npm registry with malicious packages. These packages are designed to manipulate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the cuddly_moth_z3n package stems from its inclusion in a malicious campaign that employs autopublish scripts to generate and publish numerous derivative packages with randomized names. This behavior not only inflates developer reputation scores but also modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and continuously republishes variants, leading to pollution of the npm registry. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the malicious intent behind the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which exploits npm's publishing mechanisms.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall cuddly_moth_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 cuddly_moth_z3n package altogether and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Always verify the integrity and reputation of packages before including them in your project.
Conclusion
The cuddly_moth_z3n package poses a significant risk due to its involvement in a malicious campaign that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of their applications.
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FAQ
The cuddly_moth_z3n package is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign aimed at manipulating developer reputation scores.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and may compromise the integrity of your application by introducing malicious code.
You should immediately uninstall the cuddly_moth_z3n package and check for any other dependencies that may be affected by similar vulnerabilities.
Yes, tools like Vulert can help monitor and alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. You can check your application against known vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground.
Regularly audit your dependencies using tools like npm audit, and consider using services like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in your package-lock.json file.
