Malicious Code Injection in rare_bobcat_z3n Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-107714: Malicious code in rare_bobcat_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 rare_bobcat_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 its integrity.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's design to include autopublish scripts that modify the package.json file. These modifications remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of variants that pollute the npm registry. This behavior can significantly affect the integrity of the npm ecosystem and may lead to security risks for developers using these packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall rare_bobcat_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 measure, you can avoid using the rare_bobcat_z3n package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The rare_bobcat_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses a significant risk to developers and the npm ecosystem. It is crucial to remove this package and monitor for any updates or patches to maintain the integrity of your projects.
See every vulnerability recorded for rare_bobcat_z3n →
FAQ
The rare_bobcat_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the publication of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and may compromise the integrity of your project by introducing malicious code.
You should remove the rare_bobcat_z3n package from your project and monitor for any updates or patches that may address the vulnerability.
Yes, you can use Vulert to monitor and alert in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. It requires only the package-lock.json file.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
