Malicious Code Injection in coherent_wombat_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-100644: Malicious code in coherent_wombat_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The coherent_wombat_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and appears to be 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 for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and the security of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's malicious payload, 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 other packages. The malicious scripts (auto.js, autopublish.js, etc.) are designed to automate this process, making it difficult for developers to track and manage their dependencies effectively.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall coherent_wombat_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 coherent_wombat_z3n package altogether and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to monitor your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities in real-time.
Conclusion
The coherent_wombat_z3n package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package configurations and pollutes the npm registry. It is crucial to uninstall this package and monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign that automates the generation and publication of derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json, removes private flags, and generates random package names, which can lead to security vulnerabilities and clutter in the npm registry.
You can use Vulert to monitor your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities. Visit the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check your application without any signup.
You should uninstall the coherent_wombat_z3n package immediately and check your project for any references to it in your package-lock.json.
Yes, tools like Vulert can help you monitor and alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in your software.
