Malicious Code Vulnerability in xenacious_wildcat_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-92434: Malicious code in xenacious_wildcat_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The xenacious_wildcat_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's design to include autopublish scripts that modify the package.json file. These modifications remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate 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 and loss of trust in the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall xenacious_wildcat_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 prevent the installation of this package by using npm's package-lock.json to monitor dependencies. If you are using Vulert, you can check for vulnerabilities in your application without requiring access to the code or installation. Use the Vulert playground at https://vulert.com/scanner to see if your application is affected by this vulnerability.
Conclusion
The xenacious_wildcat_z3n package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and repopulates the npm registry with compromised packages. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in their applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for xenacious_wildcat_z3n →
FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the publication of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the installation of compromised packages, which may contain malicious code that can harm your application and its users.
You should remove the xenacious_wildcat_z3n package from your project immediately and monitor for any updates or patches.
Yes, you can use tools like Vulert to monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities in real-time.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities in your application without any signup.
