Malicious Code Injection in forward_cat_z3n: npm Package Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-102884: Malicious code in forward_cat_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
The forward_cat_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that aims to exploit npm's publishing system. It is designed to generate and publish derivative packages with randomized names, which can lead to reputation inflation for malicious actors involved in the tea.xyz token reward scheme.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability stems from the presence of malicious code within the forward_cat_z3n package. This code modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, effectively polluting the npm registry. The malicious payload is part of a broader strategy to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards, posing significant risks to developers and users relying on the integrity of the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall forward_cat_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, you can avoid using the forward_cat_z3n package and any packages that depend on it. Regularly audit your npm packages using tools like npm audit to identify and address vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The forward_cat_z3n package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code designed to exploit the npm ecosystem. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their projects for vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of their applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for forward_cat_z3n →
FAQ
forward_cat_z3n is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to exploit the npm registry.
The malicious code can modify your package.json, remove private flags, and generate random package names, potentially leading to security risks and reputation issues.
You should uninstall the package immediately using the command: npm uninstall forward_cat_z3n.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access or installation.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without signing up.
