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Attributed metadata history

REPORTPUBLIC METADATA

Malicious Python Packages and Code Execution via pip download

This week I learned about a design flaw with pip download, which allows an adversary to run arbitrary code. I assumed that running pip install means anything could happen, but pip download seems a bit surprising. Both seem useful for red teaming though. Background This post from Yehuda Gelb named Automatic Execution of Code Upon Package Download on Python Package Manager which the Security Now! podcast pointed me towards. The post highlights that just running pip download can compromise your computer.

Reference details

Source category
research-report
First reported
Sep 09, 2022 23:30 UTC
Last reported
Sep 09, 2022 23:30 UTC
Catalog updated
Oct 13, 2026 14:55 UTC
Record ID
1a6cc05a8da505dddb2b998385e2ac39a03e6e9bf40108f68ec16b493f87b223

Published indicators

Network indicators are visibly defanged. This page does not make them clickable or send them to another service.

No validated file hashes or network indicators are stored for this record.

Source observations

intelligence_src_c25d91fa3ad9ae9ac7

Source-provided label
Publisher RSS metadata
Evidence class
mentioned in report
Confidence
Not reported
Observed
Sep 09, 2022 23:30 UTC
Retrieved
Oct 13, 2026 14:55 UTC

This record contains metadata and attribution only. It does not host, download, unpack, render, or execute malware samples.

Feed collection status

Sources represented on this page. Publication and observation dates describe the content; successful batch dates describe local collection. A recent batch does not certify complete coverage or current provider availability.

1 sources: 0 stale, 0 needing attention, 0 paused, 0 unverified.

Review source update dates and status
  • intelligence_src_c25d91fa3ad9ae9ac7Recent successful batchLast successful batch: Last attempt:

Stale means older than twice the recorded collection interval, with a minimum of one hour; without an interval, the threshold is 24 hours. Cached content remains available while a feed is stale, paused, or unverified.