Malicious Code Injection in obvious_beaver_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-95721: Malicious code in obvious_beaver_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The obvious_beaver_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 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 the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the obvious_beaver_z3n package originates from its involvement in a scheme to manipulate the npm registry. The malicious code modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of variants. This not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages, potentially leading to security breaches in their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall obvious_beaver_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 obvious_beaver_z3n package and any packages that depend on it. Regularly audit your dependencies using tools like npm audit to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The obvious_beaver_z3n package contains malicious code that poses significant risks to developers and their applications. It is crucial to remove this package and monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain the security of your projects.
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FAQ
It is an npm package involved in the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automatically generate and publish derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the inclusion of malicious code in your application, potentially compromising its security and integrity.
You should uninstall the obvious_beaver_z3n package immediately and audit your project for any other compromised dependencies.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just package-lock.json.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities in your application without needing to sign up.
