Malicious Code Injection in plastic_cat_z3n Package: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-95909: Malicious code in plastic_cat_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The plastic_cat_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, primarily used for various JavaScript functionalities. However, it has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with derivative packages. These packages are designed to inflate developer reputation scores through automated scripts, which can lead to significant security risks for users relying on this package.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the plastic_cat_z3n package stems from its association with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package contains malicious scripts that modify the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. The continuous republishing of these variants pollutes the npm registry, potentially leading to the installation of compromised packages by unsuspecting developers.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall plastic_cat_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 plastic_cat_z3n package and replace it with a trusted alternative. Additionally, you can use the following command to audit your npm packages for vulnerabilities: 'npm audit'. This will help identify any other potentially compromised packages in your project.
Conclusion
The plastic_cat_z3n package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code designed to manipulate npm registry entries. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities to ensure the security of their projects.
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FAQ
The plastic_cat_z3n package is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores.
The vulnerability can lead to the installation of compromised packages, which may introduce security risks or malicious code into your project.
If you have installed the plastic_cat_z3n package, you should uninstall it immediately using 'npm uninstall plastic_cat_z3n' and check for any other affected packages.
You can use tools like Vulert to monitor your project for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. Vulert requires only your package-lock.json file to provide alerts.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
