Malicious code in tpencodevirtual (PyPI)

tpencodevirtual Updated 02 Oct 2025

Summary

25/02/2023
CRITICAL
No i
Critical
Not published

MAL-2023-7025: Malicious code in tpencodevirtual (PyPI). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓

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Background

tpencodevirtual is a package available on PyPI that provides functionality for encoding and virtualization. It is commonly used in Python projects for various purposes. However, a recent security incident has revealed that a malicious version of tpencodevirtual has been published on PyPI by the EsqueleSquad group. This malicious package contains spyware and information-stealing malware, posing a significant threat to systems that unknowingly install it.

Vulnerability Detail

The vulnerability arises from the presence of malicious code in the tpencodevirtual package. This code is designed to execute spyware and steal sensitive information from the infected system. The malicious package was discovered by Checkmarx, a security research group. The package's origin can be traced back to the EsqueleSquad group, which has published nearly 6000 malicious PyPi and NPM packages. The impact of this vulnerability can be severe, as it allows unauthorized access to sensitive data and compromises the security of affected systems.

How To Fix

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

pip uninstall tpencodevirtual

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 specific workaround mentioned for this vulnerability. However, as a general precaution, it is advisable to regularly update and patch all software components, including packages and dependencies, to minimize the risk of installing malicious packages.

Conclusion

The presence of malicious code in the tpencodevirtual package poses a significant threat to systems that have installed it. It is crucial to take immediate action to remove the malicious package and protect the system from further harm. For further support and assistance in vulnerability remediation, you can reach out to DevNack.com.

See every vulnerability recorded for tpencodevirtual →

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FAQ

You can use the Vulert Playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your system is affected by this vulnerability. Simply provide your Pipfile.lock file, and Vulert will analyze it in real-time to identify any open-source vulnerabilities, including this specific issue.

The potential consequences of this vulnerability include unauthorized access to sensitive data, theft of personal information, and compromise of system security. The malicious code in tpencodevirtual can execute spyware and steal valuable information from the infected system.

This vulnerability was discovered by Checkmarx, a security research group. They identified the presence of malicious code in the tpencodevirtual package and reported it to the community.

Yes, the EsqueleSquad group has published nearly 6000 malicious PyPi and NPM packages. These packages contain various types of malware, including spyware and information-stealing malware.

If you have already installed the malicious tpencodevirtual package, it is crucial to remove it immediately from your system. Uninstall the package using the package manager or manually delete the package files. Additionally, scan your system with up-to-date antivirus software to detect and remove any associated malware.

How To Fix

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

pip uninstall tpencodevirtual

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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