Malicious Code Injection in liza-validator-catalyst: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-105288: Malicious code in liza-validator-catalyst (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
liza-validator-catalyst is an npm package that is part of the tea.xyz token reward campaign. It is designed to validate certain aspects of applications within the npm ecosystem. However, this package has been compromised, leading to significant security concerns. The malicious code embedded within it modifies critical files, potentially affecting the integrity of projects that depend on it.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from a malicious payload that alters the package.json file by removing private flags and changing version numbers. It generates random package names, often themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants to clutter the npm registry. This behavior not only inflates developer reputation scores for token rewards but also poses risks of dependency confusion and supply chain attacks, as developers may unknowingly integrate these malicious packages into their projects.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall liza-validator-catalystIf 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 remove the liza-validator-catalyst package from your project by executing: npm uninstall liza-validator-catalyst. This will prevent any potential exploitation until a secure version is released.
Conclusion
The liza-validator-catalyst package has been compromised with malicious code that can significantly impact npm users. It is crucial to take immediate action by updating or removing the package to safeguard your projects. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in monitoring and identifying vulnerabilities in your applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for liza-validator-catalyst →
FAQ
liza-validator-catalyst is an npm package used for validating certain aspects of applications, but it has been compromised with malicious code.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, potentially leading to dependency confusion and the introduction of other malicious packages into your project.
You should uninstall the package immediately and check for any other dependencies that may have been affected.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities using just your 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.
