key_cheetah_z3n (npm) · Malicious Code
Affects key_cheetah_z3nSource GCVE Database
Malicious package : remove key_cheetah_z3n and rotate any secrets on hosts that installed it.
Data as of 10 Nov 2026, 18:19 UTC
Malicious package
Published to npm · OSV MAL-2025-57121
What to do
Remove key_cheetah_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 |
|---|---|---|
| npmkey_cheetah_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 npm package key_cheetah_z3n is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign that flooded the npm registry with malicious packages. These packages contain autopublish scripts that automatically generate and publish derivative packages with randomized Indonesian-themed names. The malicious payload modifies package.json files to remove private flags and change version numbers, enabling continuous republishing of variants to inflate developer reputation scores and pollute the npm registry.