Cybersecurity researchers have uncovered three malicious Go modules with obfuscated code capable of fetching next-stage payloads. These payloads can irreversibly damage a Linux system by overwriting its primary disk, making it unbootable. The malicious Go modules are named prototransform, go-mcp, and tlsproxy. Despite appearing legitimate, the modules contain destructive code designed to retrieve a remote payload using the wget tool. Once executed, this payload overwrites the entire primary disk with zeroes, rendering the system unresponsive.
This attack method ensures that no data recovery tools can restore the overwritten data, which is permanently lost. The destructive shell script targets Linux servers and developer environments, rendering them inoperable. The incident highlights the dangers of modern supply-chain attacks, where trusted code can be hijacked and used to deploy harmful payloads. The malicious code, though seemingly innocuous, carries significant risks for organizations relying on vulnerable open-source packages, particularly those using Linux-based systems.
In addition to the Go modules, several malicious npm packages targeting cryptocurrency wallets were discovered.
These packages are designed to steal mnemonic seed phrases and private cryptocurrency keys. The packages, identified by Socket, Sonatype, and Fortinet, have been downloaded over 6,800 times since their release. Similarly, Python Package Index (PyPI) also harbors malicious packages designed to siphon cryptocurrency-related data, further highlighting the growing threat to digital assets and user security.
Researchers also found another set of seven PyPI packages that leveraged Gmail’s SMTP servers and WebSockets for data exfiltration and remote command execution.
These packages exploited the trust associated with Gmail domains to evade detection. By using Gmail’s infrastructure, attackers could communicate with compromised systems without triggering security alarms. Developers are advised to carefully verify package authenticity, audit dependencies regularly, and watch for unusual outbound traffic, especially from services like Gmail.
