Malicious Code Injection in comfortable_crab_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-100705: Malicious code in comfortable_crab_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The comfortable_crab_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, often utilized in JavaScript applications. It is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with numerous packages. This package, like others in the campaign, is designed to manipulate developer reputation scores through automated publishing of derivative packages.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the comfortable_crab_z3n package stems from its malicious code that modifies the package.json file. It removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of these variants. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly incorporate these malicious packages into their projects. The origin of this issue is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which exploits npm's publishing mechanisms.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall comfortable_crab_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, you can avoid using the comfortable_crab_z3n package until a secure version is released. Additionally, consider using npm audit to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities in your project dependencies.
Conclusion
The comfortable_crab_z3n package contains a significant vulnerability due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is essential for developers to be aware of this issue and take appropriate actions to secure their projects by updating or removing the affected package.
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FAQ
The comfortable_crab_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to manipulate developer reputation scores.
The vulnerability can lead to the inclusion of malicious code in your project, potentially compromising its integrity and security.
If you have used the comfortable_crab_z3n package, it is crucial to remove it from your project and update to a secure version as soon as possible.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file to alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities without requiring code access.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
