Malicious Code Vulnerability in adjacent_cobra_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-99178: Malicious code in adjacent_cobra_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The adjacent_cobra_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 generation and publication of derivative packages, often with randomized names, to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. Its functionality is compromised due to the presence of malicious code that alters package metadata.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the malicious code embedded within the adjacent_cobra_z3n package, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially compromising the integrity of the ecosystem. The malicious payload can affect developers by inflating reputation scores fraudulently and may lead to the installation of untrusted packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall adjacent_cobra_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 adjacent_cobra_z3n package and instead rely on alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can monitor your package-lock.json file for any unauthorized changes.
Conclusion
The adjacent_cobra_z3n package contains malicious code that poses a significant risk to developers and the npm ecosystem. It is crucial to remove this package and monitor your project for any unauthorized changes. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help maintain the security of your open-source dependencies.
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FAQ
The adjacent_cobra_z3n package is an npm package involved in the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, potentially leading to the installation of untrusted packages and polluting the npm registry.
You should remove the adjacent_cobra_z3n package from your project immediately and monitor for any unauthorized changes in your package-lock.json.
Yes, you can use Vulert to monitor and alert for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. You can check your application using the Vulert playground without any signup.
Regularly audit your dependencies, use tools like Vulert for real-time monitoring, and ensure to only install packages from trusted sources.
