Malicious Code Injection in witty_catshark_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-97394: Malicious code in witty_catshark_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The witty_catshark_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, often used for various JavaScript applications. 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 witty_catshark_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 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 witty_catshark_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 witty_catshark_z3n package and any other packages associated with the tea.xyz campaign. Regularly audit your npm packages using tools like npm audit to identify and remove any potentially harmful packages.
Conclusion
The witty_catshark_z3n package contains malicious code that poses significant risks to developers and their applications. It is essential to uninstall this package and monitor your project for any vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help you stay informed about potential threats in your open-source dependencies.
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FAQ
It is an npm package that is part of the tea.xyz token reward campaign, known for generating and publishing malicious packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, which can lead to security vulnerabilities and the pollution of the npm registry.
You should uninstall the witty_catshark_z3n package immediately and check for any other related malicious packages.
Yes, you can use Vulert to monitor your project for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time by analyzing your package-lock.json file.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
