Malicious Code Injection in visiting_cicada_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-97266: Malicious code in visiting_cicada_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The visiting_cicada_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, often utilized in various JavaScript projects. It is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with numerous packages. This package, like others in the campaign, is designed to manipulate developer reputation scores by automatically generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the visiting_cicada_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, leading to the continuous republishing of 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 visiting_cicada_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a workaround, you can avoid using the visiting_cicada_z3n package altogether. If it is already in use, consider replacing it with an alternative package that serves a similar purpose but does not have known vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The visiting_cicada_z3n package contains a significant vulnerability due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and repopulates the npm registry with compromised packages. It is crucial to remove this package from your projects and monitor for any updates or patches to maintain the security of your applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for visiting_cicada_z3n →
FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, known for its malicious behavior.
The vulnerability can lead to the introduction of malicious code, potentially compromising your application's security.
You should remove the visiting_cicada_z3n package from your project and monitor for any updates or patches.
Yes, you can use Vulert to monitor your project for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just the package-lock.json file.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities in your application without any signup.
