Malicious Code Exfiltration in xsltproc Package
Summary
MAL-2025-191937: Malicious code in xsltproc (PyPI). Affects xsltproc versions 0.0.0 – 0.0.1. 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
The xsltproc package, available on PyPI, is designed for processing XML files using XSLT stylesheets. It is commonly used in various applications for transforming XML data into different formats. However, this package has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises user data.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's code, which is designed to exfiltrate basic information about the host system, such as the IP address and username, upon installation or import. This malicious behavior is executed by overriding the install command in the setup.py file, leading to unauthorized data access without the user's consent. The package poses a limited risk but can still lead to privacy breaches.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
pip uninstall xsltprocIf 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, you can avoid using the xsltproc package altogether and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can monitor your environment for any unauthorized data access.
Conclusion
The xsltproc package has been identified as containing malicious code that exfiltrates sensitive information from the host system. Users are advised to uninstall the package and consider alternatives to safeguard their data. Regular monitoring for vulnerabilities is crucial to maintaining a secure environment.
See every vulnerability recorded for xsltproc →
FAQ
xsltproc is a package used for processing XML files with XSLT stylesheets, commonly utilized in data transformation tasks.
The vulnerability allows the package to exfiltrate sensitive information from your system, potentially compromising your privacy.
You should uninstall the xsltproc package immediately to prevent any unauthorized data access.
Yes, consider using other XML processing libraries that do not have known vulnerabilities.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using your Pipfile.lock. You can check if your application is affected by this vulnerability using the Vulert playground without any signup.
