Malicious Code Injection in liable_cardinal_z3n Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-105108: Malicious code in liable_cardinal_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The liable_cardinal_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate token rewards through the generation and publication of derivative packages. However, it has been compromised to include malicious scripts that manipulate package metadata and flood the npm registry with unwanted packages.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the liable_cardinal_z3n package is characterized by the presence of malicious code that modifies the package.json file. This code removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, which are then republished to the npm registry. This behavior not only compromises the integrity of the package but also affects the reputation of developers and pollutes the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall liable_cardinal_z3n
If 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 liable_cardinal_z3n package from your project by executing 'npm uninstall liable_cardinal_z3n'. This will prevent the execution of any malicious code associated with the package until a secure version is released.
Conclusion
The liable_cardinal_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses a significant risk to developers and the npm ecosystem. It is crucial to take immediate action by updating or removing the package to safeguard your projects.
See every vulnerability recorded for liable_cardinal_z3n →
FAQ
The liable_cardinal_z3n package is part of a token reward campaign on npm, aimed at generating and publishing derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, potentially compromising your project's integrity and flooding the npm registry with unwanted packages.
If you have installed the liable_cardinal_z3n package, it is recommended to uninstall it immediately and check for any updates or patches.
Yes, you can use Vulert to monitor your project for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using your package-lock.json file.
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