Malicious Code Exfiltration in pxdbench Package
Summary
MAL-2025-192930: Malicious code in pxdbench (PyPI). Affects pxdbench versions 0.0.0 – 0.1.0. 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
pxdbench is a Python package available on PyPI that is designed for benchmarking and performance testing. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises user data. The package is intended to be installed via pip, but its true functionality is overshadowed by its harmful behavior, which includes exfiltrating sensitive information from the host system.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the pxdbench package arises from its malicious code that executes during installation. This code is designed to exfiltrate basic information about the host, such as the IP address and username, without the user's consent. The package overrides the install command in setup.py, ensuring that the malicious code runs whenever the package is installed. This poses a risk to users who may unknowingly install the package, leading to potential data breaches and privacy violations.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
pip uninstall pxdbenchIf 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 workaround, users can monitor their system for any unauthorized data access or exfiltration attempts. Additionally, employing network monitoring tools can help detect any suspicious activity that may arise from the installation of this package.
Conclusion
The pxdbench package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that exfiltrates sensitive information from users' systems. It is crucial for users to avoid installing this package and to remove it if already installed. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in monitoring for such vulnerabilities in the future.
See every vulnerability recorded for pxdbench →
FAQ
pxdbench is a Python package intended for benchmarking and performance testing, but it has been compromised with malicious code.
The malicious code exfiltrates basic information such as the host's IP address and username.
If you have installed pxdbench, your system may have been affected. Monitor for any unusual data access or network activity.
The best way to fix the vulnerability is to uninstall the pxdbench package, as there is no patched version available.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. You can check if your application is affected by this vulnerability using the Vulert playground without any signup.
