Malicious Code Injection in ordinary_coyote_z3n: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-95778: Malicious code in ordinary_coyote_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
ordinary_coyote_z3n is an npm package that has been associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages. It aims to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards, but it has been compromised by malicious actors, making it a potential threat to users and the npm ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in ordinary_coyote_z3n originates from its association with a campaign that floods the npm registry with malicious packages. The malicious payload modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses a risk of unintentional dependency on compromised packages, leading to potential security breaches in applications that utilize them.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall ordinary_coyote_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 remove the ordinary_coyote_z3n package from your project by executing: npm uninstall ordinary_coyote_z3n. This will prevent any malicious code from executing in your application until a fix is implemented.
Conclusion
The ordinary_coyote_z3n package has been identified as a vector for malicious code that compromises the integrity of the npm ecosystem. Users are advised to uninstall the package and monitor their applications for vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in maintaining the security of your software.
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FAQ
ordinary_coyote_z3n is an npm package involved in the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been compromised to include malicious code.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, removes private flags, and can lead to the installation of compromised packages, potentially breaching your application's security.
You should uninstall the ordinary_coyote_z3n package immediately and check for any updates or patches that may address the vulnerability.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities using just your package-lock.json file. You can also check your application for vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground without any signup.
Regularly update your packages, use tools like Vulert for monitoring, and review package dependencies to ensure they are from trusted sources.
