Malicious Code Vulnerability in holy_caterpillar_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-98750: Malicious code in holy_caterpillar_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The holy_caterpillar_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. 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 malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags and alters version numbers. It generates random package names, primarily themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants to pollute the npm registry. This behavior can lead to a significant increase in spam packages, affecting the overall health of the npm ecosystem and potentially compromising the security of applications that depend on this package.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall holy_caterpillar_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 holy_caterpillar_z3n package from your project if it is not essential. Use the following command to uninstall it: 'npm uninstall holy_caterpillar_z3n'. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to monitor your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The holy_caterpillar_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses a significant risk to the npm ecosystem. It is crucial for developers to take immediate action by updating or removing the package to safeguard their applications. Utilizing tools like Vulert can further enhance your ability to monitor and manage vulnerabilities effectively.
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FAQ
The holy_caterpillar_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the publication of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the proliferation of spam packages in the npm registry, potentially compromising the security and integrity of applications that rely on this package.
You should update the package to the latest version or remove it from your project to mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access or installation.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
