Malicious Code Injection in low_cattle_z3n Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-95326: Malicious code in low_cattle_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The low_cattle_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with malicious packages. The functionality of low_cattle_z3n is compromised due to its involvement in generating and publishing derivative packages that aim to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the low_cattle_z3n package stems from its malicious code that modifies the package.json file. It removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, which leads to the continuous republishing of these variants. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages, potentially leading to security breaches in their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall low_cattle_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 low_cattle_z3n package from your project by executing the command: npm uninstall low_cattle_z3n. This will prevent any malicious code from executing until a patched version is available.
Conclusion
The low_cattle_z3n package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that modifies essential project files. It is crucial for developers to take immediate action by uninstalling the package and monitoring their projects for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert.
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FAQ
The low_cattle_z3n package is an npm package that has been identified as malicious, primarily involved in the tea.xyz token reward campaign.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, potentially leading to security vulnerabilities and the pollution of the npm registry.
You should uninstall the package immediately and check for any updates or patches that may address the vulnerability.
Yes, you can use Vulert to monitor your project for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time by analyzing your package-lock.json file.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
