Malicious Code Injection in important_cuckoo_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-94948: Malicious code in important_cuckoo_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The important_cuckoo_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. The package's functionality is compromised due to the presence of malicious scripts that manipulate its metadata.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the important_cuckoo_z3n package stems from malicious code that modifies the package.json file. This code removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of variants that pollute the npm registry. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which aims to exploit npm's publishing system for malicious purposes. The ramifications include potential security risks for developers using the package, as well as the degradation of the npm ecosystem due to the proliferation of these malicious packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall important_cuckoo_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, avoid using the important_cuckoo_z3n package and consider using alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can monitor your project for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert, which can alert you to open-source vulnerabilities in real-time.
Conclusion
The important_cuckoo_z3n package contains malicious code that poses a significant risk to developers and the npm ecosystem. It is crucial to uninstall this package and monitor your projects for vulnerabilities to maintain security. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help you stay informed about potential threats.
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FAQ
important_cuckoo_z3n is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the generation and publication of packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, potentially leading to security vulnerabilities and the pollution of the npm registry.
You should uninstall the important_cuckoo_z3n package immediately and check for any dependencies that may be affected.
You can use Vulert to monitor your project for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time by analyzing your package-lock.json file.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
