Malicious Code Injection in negative_cicada_z3n: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-98833: Malicious code in negative_cicada_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Habilume
Habit tracker with a companion that grows with you
Complete habits, earn Lume Points, and watch your Lume grow as you stay consistent.
Background
The package 'negative_cicada_z3n' is part of a series of npm packages associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to manipulate the npm registry by automatically generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names. This behavior is intended to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards, making the package a potential vector for malicious activities.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'negative_cicada_z3n' stems from its inclusion in a malicious campaign that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This results in the continuous republishing of variants, which pollutes the npm registry and can lead to security risks for developers who unknowingly use these compromised packages. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the automated scripts (auto.js, autopublish.js, etc.) that are part of the malicious package.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall negative_cicada_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, you can remove the package from your project by running the command: npm uninstall negative_cicada_z3n. Additionally, consider using a package monitoring tool like Vulert to keep track of vulnerabilities in your dependencies.
Conclusion
The 'negative_cicada_z3n' package poses a significant threat due to its malicious code designed to manipulate the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to be vigilant about their dependencies and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities. Immediate action should be taken to remove this package and safeguard your projects.
See every vulnerability recorded for negative_cicada_z3n →
FAQ
The main issue is that it contains malicious code that modifies package.json files and republish variants to pollute the npm registry.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without needing to sign up.
If you have installed the package, it is recommended to uninstall it immediately and review your other dependencies for similar vulnerabilities.
Yes, Vulert is a tool that monitors your package-lock.json file for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time.
Using compromised packages can lead to security breaches, data leaks, and damage to your application's integrity.
Habilume
Habit tracker with a companion that grows with you
Complete habits, earn Lume Points, and watch your Lume grow as you stay consistent.
