fatal_cardinal_z3n (npm) · Malicious Code
Affects fatal_cardinal_z3nSource GCVE Database
Malicious package : remove fatal_cardinal_z3n and rotate any secrets on hosts that installed it.
Data as of 10 Nov 2026, 17:13 UTC
Malicious package
Published to npm · OSV MAL-2025-56281
What to do
Remove fatal_cardinal_z3n from every project, lockfile and image that pulls it in. Treat any host that installed it as compromised: rotate the credentials, tokens and keys it could read, from a clean machine.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| npmfatal_cardinal_z3n | Affected– | Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
Description
The fatal_cardinal_z3n npm package is part of a malicious campaign linked to tea.xyz token rewards that floods the npm registry with autopublish scripts. These scripts automatically generate and publish derivative packages with randomized Indonesian-themed names to inflate developer reputation scores. The malicious payload modifies package.json files to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and continuously republishes variants, thereby polluting the npm ecosystem.