Malicious Code Injection in innovative_cheetah_z3n: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-104235: Malicious code in innovative_cheetah_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'innovative_cheetah_z3n' is part of a series of npm packages that have been identified as malicious. These packages are linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which aims to inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages. The malicious nature of this package lies in its ability to modify critical files and continuously republish variants, thus polluting the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'innovative_cheetah_z3n' originates from its design to include autopublish scripts that remove private flags from package.json, alter version numbers, and generate random package names. This behavior not only compromises the integrity of the npm registry but also poses risks to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages. The malicious payload can lead to reputation damage for developers and potential security risks for applications relying on these packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall innovative_cheetah_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 'innovative_cheetah_z3n' package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can monitor your project for any unauthorized changes to package.json.
Conclusion
The 'innovative_cheetah_z3n' package poses significant risks due to its malicious code designed to manipulate npm packages. It is essential for developers to be vigilant and remove such packages from their projects to maintain security and integrity. Utilizing tools like Vulert can aid in monitoring for vulnerabilities effectively.
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FAQ
It is an npm package identified as malicious, linked to a token reward campaign that manipulates package publishing.
It can lead to unauthorized changes in your project's dependencies, potentially compromising security and integrity.
You should immediately remove the package and monitor your project for any unauthorized changes.
Yes, tools like Vulert can monitor your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities in your application without signing up.
