Malicious Code Vulnerability in working_lobster_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-92322: Malicious code in working_lobster_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The working_lobster_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 and the security of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package being part of a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with derivative packages. It includes scripts that modify the package.json file to remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names. This behavior leads to the pollution of the npm registry and can potentially harm developers by affecting their reputation and the integrity of their projects.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall working_lobster_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 avoid using the working_lobster_z3n package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can monitor your package dependencies using tools like Vulert, which alerts you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The working_lobster_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that can compromise the integrity of projects using it. It is crucial to remove this package and monitor for updates. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in identifying and managing vulnerabilities in your dependencies.
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FAQ
The working_lobster_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the generation of derivative packages.
This vulnerability can compromise the integrity of your project by introducing malicious code that modifies your package.json file and floods the npm registry with unwanted packages.
You should remove the working_lobster_z3n package from your project and monitor for any updates or patches that may be released.
You can use tools like Vulert, which allows you to monitor and alert for open-source vulnerabilities in your software without requiring access to the code or installation.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
