Cybersecurity researchers have discovered two malicious packages uploaded to the Python Package Index (PyPI) repository that impersonated popular artificial intelligence (AI) models like OpenAI ChatGPT and Anthropic Claude to deliver an information stealer called JarkaStealer.
The supply chain campaign shows the advancement of cyber threats attacking developers and the urgent need for caution in open-source activities.
Experts have found two malicious packages uploaded to the Python Index (PyPI) repository pretending to be popular artificial intelligence (AI) models like OpenAI Chatgpt and Anthropic Claude to distribute an information stealer known as JarkaStealer.
About attack vector
Called gptplus and claudeai-eng, the packages were uploaded by a user called "Xeroline" last year, resulting in 1,748 and 1,826 downloads. The two libraries can't be downloaded from PyPI. According to Kaspersky, the malicious packages were uploaded to the repository by one author and differed only in name and description.
Experts believe the package offered a way to access GPT-4 Turbo and Claude AI API but contained malicious code that, upon installation, started the installation of malware.
Particularly, the "__init__.py" file in these packages included Base64-encoded data that included code to download a Java archive file ("JavaUpdater.jar") from a GitHub repository, also downloading the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) from a Dropbox URL in case Java isn't already deployed on the host, before running the JAR file.
The impact
Based on information stealer JarkaStealer, the JAR file can steal a variety of sensitive data like web browser data, system data, session tokens, and screenshots from a wide range of applications like Steam, Telegram, and Discord.
In the last step, the stolen data is archived, sent to the attacker's server, and then removed from the target's machine.JarkaStealer is known to offer under a malware-as-a-service (MaaS) model through a Telegram channel for a cost between $20 and $50, however, the source code has been leaked on GitHub.
ClickPy stats suggest packages were downloaded over 3,500 times, primarily by users in China, the U.S., India, Russia, Germany, and France. The attack was part of an all-year supply chain attack campaign.
How JarkaStealer steals
- Steals web browser data- cookies, browsing history, and saved passwords.
- Compromises system data and setals OS details and user login details.
- Steals session tokens from apps like Discord, Telegram, and Steam.
- Captures real-time desktop activity through screenshots.
The stolen information is compressed and transmitted to a remote server controlled by the hacker, where it is removed from the target’s device.
