defi-tools

GHSA-x46r-prjr-jf4q

Malicious code in defi-tools (PyPI)

Details

**Severity:** Critical

**Affected versions:** `= 0.8.0`

## Source: amazon-inspector (5a2562ad49633ee8c845db08a485394cb31c7de12d9f87eb3f8ef0ab61fb5128)
On first import, defi_tools/__init__.py decodes a base64-embedded ~486KB Linux ELF, writes it to ~/.config/.npm-cache/snapd-network, sets mode 0777, and installs a user crontab entry (0 */12 * * *) to re-execute it every 12 hours. The binary is disguised under a system-service-like name in a hidden.npm-cache directory that maps to no real npm or snapd path. The init code then recursively removes the package's own dist-info/egg-info and __pycache__ directories, erasing evidence while the dropped binary and cron entry persist.

## Source: kam193 (965dc1bdb2af9e6f1c5965554eeb9a789ff0b4f8ef2c46e76f05774ac9f3535a)
The package embeds an executable stealing cryptocurrency wallets data. During import, code saves the executable under a name suggesting system utility and configures cron to run it periodically. The exfiltrated data is encrypted using embedded RSA code before uploading to file-sharing services or IPFS.


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Category: MALICIOUS - The campaign has clearly malicious intent, like infostealers.


Campaign: 2026-07-py-base58


Reasons (based on the campaign):


 - crypto-related


 - exfiltration-crypto


 - persistence

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Credit: [OpenSSF](https://github.com/ossf/malicious-packages) ([source](https://github.com/ossf/malicious-packages/blob/49d0cfba3689ed9b195d101d3a2a964c6a77f767/osv/malicious/pypi/defi-tools/MAL-2026-10192.json))

**References:**
- https://bad-packages.kam193.eu/pypi/package/defi-tools
- https://github.com/ossf/malicious-packages/blob/49d0cfba3689ed9b195d101d3a2a964c6a77f767/osv/malicious/pypi/defi-tools/MAL-2026-10192.json
- https://pypi.org/project/defi-tools/0.8.0
- https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/4dd018d84f2f9c35caed7a2c684cff2c1ea3af3a113cceb078a0788eefb93f66/detection
- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-x46r-prjr-jf4q

Compromised versions (1)

= 0.8.0

Any computer that installed or ran a compromised version should be considered fully compromised. Rotate every secret on that machine from a clean environment.