Several malicious Python packages accessible through the PyPI module were discovered, taking confidential data, including AWS keys and credentials, and sending it to openly accessible destinations.
PyPI is an open-source repository of Python packages that developers use for their Python-based projects. The widely used PyPI package “ctx” was recently compromised and might release versions that leak your environment variables to an external server. “Ctx” is a simple Python package that enables programmers to manipulate their “dictionary” or “dict” objects.
Companies like Sonatype, specialize in software supply-chain security and employ specific automated malware detection methods to find them. Sonatype identified several more packages to be malicious. These include:
- loglib-modules
- pyg-modules
- pygrata
- hkg-sol-utils
- Pygrata-utils
J. Cardona and C. Fernandez, Sonatype analysts, identified that ‘loglib-modules’ and ‘pygrata-utils’ were used for exfiltration and snatching AWS credentials and other essential information.
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The two analysts contacted the domain owners to alert them to the public exposure and to provide an explanation under the assumption that they might be missing anything. The endpoint was quickly made inaccessible to the public without any other response, likely indicating illegitimacy.
PyPI often responds quickly to reports of harmful packages on the platform, but because there is no actual filtering before submission, risky packages may remain for some time. It’s interesting to note that “pygrata” requires “pygrata-utils” as a dependency because it lacks the data-stealing functionality. Because of this, even though four malicious packages were swiftly detected and deleted from PyPI, “pygrata” stayed there for a more extended period despite its limited autonomy.
Software developers are recommended to examine package descriptions, upload dates, release histories, and upload dates in addition to package names. These factors tell whether a Python package is authentic or a risky imitation.
