Malicious Code Vulnerability in pipinpeace-env: Exfiltration of Environment Variables
Summary
MAL-2026-2026: Malicious code in pipinpeace-env (PyPI). Affects pipinpeace-env versions 0.0.0. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
pipinpeace-env is a Python package available on PyPI, designed for managing environment variables. It allows users to set and retrieve environment variables conveniently. However, this package has been identified with a significant vulnerability that allows it to exfiltrate sensitive environment variables during installation, posing a risk to users' data security.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's design, which overrides the install command in setup.py to execute malicious code during installation. This code is intended to exfiltrate environment variables, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information. The package requires a URL as an installation parameter, indicating that it may be more of a research tool than a direct malicious threat. Nonetheless, it falls under the category of malicious software due to its intent to steal information.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
pip uninstall pipinpeace-envIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a workaround, consider using alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Always verify the source and integrity of packages before installation.
Conclusion
The pipinpeace-env package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code designed to exfiltrate environment variables. Users are advised to uninstall this package and seek safer alternatives. Continuous monitoring for vulnerabilities is essential to maintain software security.
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FAQ
pipinpeace-env is a Python package designed for managing environment variables, but it has been found to contain malicious code.
The vulnerability allows the package to exfiltrate environment variables during installation by executing malicious code embedded in the setup process.
If you have installed pipinpeace-env, you should uninstall it immediately using 'pip uninstall pipinpeace-env'.
Yes, consider using other well-reviewed packages for managing environment variables that do not have known vulnerabilities.
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