Malicious Code Exfiltration in hostlists-plugins-default Package
Summary
MAL-2026-1275: Malicious code in hostlists-plugins-default (PyPI). Affects hostlists-plugins-default versions 0.0.0 – 1.0.0. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The hostlists-plugins-default package, available on PyPI, is designed for use in penetration testing and related activities. It is intended to assist users in gathering information about hosts in a network. However, this package has been found to contain malicious code that compromises its intended functionality, posing a risk to users who install it.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's design, which includes code that exfiltrates sensitive information such as the host's IP address and username upon installation. This malicious behavior is executed by overriding the install command in the setup.py file, ensuring that the harmful code runs automatically during the installation process. The risk is categorized as limited, but it still poses a significant threat to user privacy and security.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
pip uninstall hostlists-plugins-defaultIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a workaround, users can utilize alternative packages that do not exhibit malicious behavior. Additionally, consider using virtual environments to isolate installations and minimize risk. For example, create a virtual environment using the following commands:
python -m venv myenv
source myenv/bin/activate
Then, install only trusted packages within this environment.
Conclusion
The hostlists-plugins-default package contains malicious code that compromises user security by exfiltrating sensitive information. Users are advised to uninstall the package and seek safer alternatives. Regular monitoring of dependencies using tools like Vulert can help maintain a secure software environment.
See every vulnerability recorded for hostlists-plugins-default →
FAQ
It is a package available on PyPI intended for penetration testing and host information gathering.
The malicious code exfiltrates basic information such as the host's IP address and username.
You can use Vulert's playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without needing to sign up.
You should uninstall the package immediately using the command: pip uninstall hostlists-plugins-default.
Yes, consider using other trusted packages for penetration testing that do not exhibit malicious behavior.
