Malicious Code Injection in outer_cobra_z3n: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-106826: Malicious code in outer_cobra_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
The package 'outer_cobra_z3n' is part of a series of npm packages that emerged during the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to inflate developer reputation scores by automatically generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names. The malicious nature of this package lies in its ability to modify critical files and republish itself, thereby polluting the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'outer_cobra_z3n' originates from its malicious payload, which alters the package.json file to remove private flags, changes version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior is intended to create a flood of derivative packages in the npm registry, which can lead to reputation inflation for developers involved in the tea protocol token rewards. The ramifications include potential security risks for users who unknowingly install these packages, as they may contain harmful scripts.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall outer_cobra_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, you can avoid using the 'outer_cobra_z3n' package and any packages that depend on it. Additionally, consider using npm audit to identify and address vulnerabilities in your project.
Conclusion
The 'outer_cobra_z3n' package poses a significant threat to the npm ecosystem due to its malicious behavior of modifying package files and republishing itself. It is essential to remove this package from your projects and stay vigilant about the security of your dependencies.
See every vulnerability recorded for outer_cobra_z3n →
FAQ
'outer_cobra_z3n' is an npm package that has been identified as malicious, designed to inflate developer reputation scores through automated publishing of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the installation of malicious code, which may compromise the security of your project and its dependencies.
Immediately uninstall the package using 'npm uninstall outer_cobra_z3n' and review your project's dependencies for any other potentially malicious packages.
Yes, you can use Vulert to monitor and alert for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. Visit Vulert Scanner to check your application without any signup.
Regularly audit your dependencies using tools like npm audit and consider using Vulert for real-time monitoring of vulnerabilities.
