Malicious Code Injection in pretty_chickadee_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-95999: Malicious code in pretty_chickadee_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The pretty_chickadee_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package, like many others, is intended to facilitate the development of applications by providing reusable code. However, it has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that exploits npm's publishing capabilities to inflate developer reputation scores through automated scripts.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the pretty_chickadee_z3n package originates from its association with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package contains malicious scripts that modify the package.json file to remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names. The scripts continuously republish these variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially compromising the integrity of other packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall pretty_chickadee_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, avoid using the pretty_chickadee_z3n package and consider using alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can monitor your package dependencies using tools like Vulert, which can alert you to vulnerabilities in real-time.
Conclusion
The pretty_chickadee_z3n package has been identified as malicious due to its involvement in a campaign that exploits npm's publishing system. It is crucial to remove this package from your projects and monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert.
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FAQ
The pretty_chickadee_z3n package is an npm package used for JavaScript development, but it has been identified as malicious.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and may compromise the integrity of your application's dependencies.
You should uninstall the pretty_chickadee_z3n package immediately and check for any alternative packages.
You can use Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file to alert you of any open-source vulnerabilities in real-time.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities in your application without needing to sign up.
