Malicious code in toolurl (PyPI)

toolurl Updated 02 Oct 2025

Summary

23/02/2023
CRITICAL
No i
Critical
Not published

MAL-2023-6901: Malicious code in toolurl (PyPI). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓

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Background

The toolurl package is an open-source Python package available on PyPI. It is designed to provide functionality related to URLs and web scraping. The package allows users to manipulate and extract information from URLs easily. However, the package has been found to contain malicious code, which poses a significant security risk to users.

Vulnerability Detail

The toolurl package has been compromised by the EsqueleSquad group, who published nearly 6000 malicious PyPi and NPM packages. These packages execute spyware and information-stealing malware. The specific vulnerability in toolurl allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on the user's system, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data theft, and other malicious activities.

How To Fix

This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.

pip uninstall toolurl

If 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

There is no known workaround for this vulnerability. It is essential to remove the toolurl package and follow the recommended steps to fix the issue.

Conclusion

The toolurl package on PyPI has been compromised by the EsqueleSquad group, leading to the inclusion of malicious code. This vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on the user's system, potentially resulting in unauthorized access and data theft. To mitigate the risk, it is crucial to remove the toolurl package and follow the recommended steps for fixing the vulnerability. For further support on vulnerability remediation, you can contact DevNack.com.

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FAQ

You can use the Vulert Playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability. Simply provide your Pipfile.lock, and Vulert will analyze it for any open-source vulnerabilities, including the malicious code in toolurl.

The malicious code in toolurl can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, data theft, and the execution of additional malware on the user's system. It is crucial to address this vulnerability promptly to prevent any potential harm.

No, the toolurl package itself is compromised and cannot be fixed. The recommended course of action is to remove the package from your project and any dependencies that rely on it.

To ensure the security of your Python packages, it is essential to regularly update your project's dependencies. Only use packages from trusted sources, and consider using a vulnerability monitoring tool like Vulert to stay informed about any potential vulnerabilities in your software.

This vulnerability was discovered by Checkmarx, a security company specializing in software vulnerability detection. They have reported the issue and provided the necessary details for remediation.

How To Fix

This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.

pip uninstall toolurl

If 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 →

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