Malicious Code Injection in absolute_coral_z3n: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-93077: Malicious code in absolute_coral_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
absolute_coral_z3n is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign targeting the npm ecosystem. This package is associated with the tea.xyz token reward initiative, which has been known to flood the npm registry with numerous derivative packages. The primary function of these packages is to inflate developer reputation scores through automated publishing scripts, which can lead to significant pollution of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in absolute_coral_z3n stems from its inclusion in a malicious campaign that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior is orchestrated by autopublish scripts that continuously republish variants of the package, thereby compromising the integrity of the npm registry. The ramifications include potential security risks for developers who unknowingly use these packages, as they may inadvertently introduce malicious code into their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall absolute_coral_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 absolute_coral_z3n package altogether. If it is already in use, consider removing it from your package.json and running npm install to clean up your dependencies.
Conclusion
The absolute_coral_z3n package poses a significant risk to the npm ecosystem due to its malicious behavior aimed at inflating developer reputation scores. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies to maintain the security of their applications.
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FAQ
absolute_coral_z3n is an npm package linked to a malicious campaign that aims to inflate developer reputation scores through automated publishing.
Using the absolute_coral_z3n package can introduce malicious code into your project, potentially compromising its security and integrity.
You should remove the absolute_coral_z3n package from your project and monitor your dependencies for any other malicious packages.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just your package-lock.json file.
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