A series of malicious packages was uncovered in the Python Package Index (PyPI) repository, posing as cryptocurrency wallet recovery and management tools. These packages targeted users of well-known wallets like Atomic, Trust Wallet, Metamask, and Exodus, offering seemingly legitimate services to help recover wallet data. However, their real purpose was to steal sensitive information such as private keys and mnemonic phrases, enabling the theft of digital assets from unsuspecting users.
The attackers behind the operation carefully crafted these packages to appear trustworthy by including detailed installation instructions, usage examples, and even fake download statistics. The package names, like atomicdecoderss and trondecoderss, were chosen to attract developers in the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Despite their malicious intent, the packages were downloaded hundreds of times before being removed from the repository, exposing a significant number of users to potential risks.
Checkmarx researchers discovered that the malicious code was activated only when specific functions were called, deviating from the typical behavior where harmful actions occur immediately upon installation. Additionally, some packages used dependencies like cipherbcryptors to carry out the attacks, while the attackers used a technique called “dead drop resolver” to dynamically retrieve server information, further complicating detection efforts. This flexibility allowed them to change their command-and-control infrastructure without needing to update the packages themselves.
This campaign highlights the growing threats facing the cryptocurrency community, particularly from open-source repositories like PyPI. As cybercriminals evolve their tactics, cryptocurrency users must remain vigilant, employing comprehensive security measures and continuous monitoring to avoid falling victim to these increasingly sophisticated attacks. The incident serves as a reminder of the need for stricter controls and more rigorous scrutiny of third-party software in open-source communities.
Reference:
- https://checkmarx.com/blog/crypto-stealing-code-lurking-in-python-package-dependencies/
