Malicious Code Injection in Cuddly Warbler Z3N Package
Summary
MAL-2025-93880: Malicious code in cuddly_warbler_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
Cuddly Warbler Z3N is an npm package that has been 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. However, it has been compromised to include malicious code that alters its own package configuration.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability stems from the inclusion of malicious scripts within the cuddly_warbler_z3n package. These scripts are designed to modify the package.json file by removing private flags, changing version numbers, and generating random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants, which pollutes the npm registry and can compromise the integrity of other packages. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to a broader trend of malicious packages flooding the npm ecosystem, particularly those associated with token reward schemes.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall cuddly_warbler_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, you can remove the cuddly_warbler_z3n package from your project by executing: npm uninstall cuddly_warbler_z3n. This will prevent any malicious scripts from executing while you seek a secure alternative.
Conclusion
The cuddly_warbler_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises the npm ecosystem. It is crucial for developers to take immediate action by updating or removing the package to safeguard their projects from potential threats.
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FAQ
Cuddly_warbler_z3n is an npm package that was part of a token reward campaign, designed to automatically generate and publish derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and may compromise the integrity of other packages in your project.
You should uninstall the package immediately and check for any updates or patches that may address the vulnerability.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just your package-lock.json file.
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