Malicious code in rc4-secure (PyPI)
The PyPI package rc4-secure contained malicious code that silently downloads and executes a remote executable without user consent. The malicious behavior was discovered and attributed to a research-like demonstration campaign.
- Disclosed
- Last updated
- Blast radius
- Unknown; depends on installation count and user base of rc4-secure package
- Ecosystems
- Attack vectors
- Affected entities
- rc4-securePyPI package containing malicious code
The rc4-secure package on PyPI was found to contain malicious code that downloads and executes a remote executable in a manner intentionally hidden from users. The package was identified by researcher kam193 and credited to the OpenSSF's malicious-packages project.\n\nAnalysis revealed the code downloads a legitimate software unrelated to the package's stated functionality, suggesting this was a research-like demonstration of supply chain attack techniques. The malicious behavior includes modifying system state without user consent and concealing the attack within library usage patterns.\n\nThe incident was tracked as campaign 2026-08-rc4-secure and assigned identifier MAL-2026-14306 in the OpenSSF malicious packages database.
Indicators of compromise
- Packages
- rc4-secure
Remediation
- Remove rc4-secure from all environments immediately
- Audit systems where rc4-secure was installed for signs of unauthorized executable downloads or execution
- Review package dependencies to identify any reliance on rc4-secure and replace with legitimate alternatives
- Monitor for any remote connections or suspicious processes that may have been initiated by the malicious package
- Update security policies to include automated scanning of PyPI packages for known malicious code signatures
Sources
- GitHub Advisory GHSA-q3mh-hmf4-7c8m · GitHub Advisory Database
Cite this entry
"Malicious code in rc4-secure (PyPI)." supplychainattack.org, Supply Chain Attack Incident Catalog. Disclosed August 19, 2026; last updated August 19, 2026. https://supplychainattack.org/incident/malicious-code-in-rc4-secure-pypi-v8mwj6
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