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Scrape Timestamp (UTC): 2025-03-05 07:09:48.458
Source: https://thehackernews.com/2025/03/seven-malicious-go-packages-found.html
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Seven Malicious Go Packages Found Deploying Malware on Linux and macOS Systems. Cybersecurity researchers are alerting of an ongoing malicious campaign targeting the Go ecosystem with typosquatted modules that are designed to deploy loader malware on Linux and Apple macOS systems. "The threat actor has published at least seven packages impersonating widely used Go libraries, including one (github[.]com/shallowmulti/hypert) that appears to target financial-sector developers," Socket researcher Kirill Boychenko said in a new report. "These packages share repeated malicious filenames and consistent obfuscation techniques, suggesting a coordinated threat actor capable of pivoting rapidly." While all of them continue to be available on the official package repository, their corresponding GitHub repositories barring "github[.]com/ornatedoctrin/layout" are no longer accessible. The list of offending Go packages is below - The counterfeit packages, Socket's analysis found, contain code to achieve remote code execution. This is achieved by running an obfuscated shell command to retrieve and run a script hosted on a remote server ("alturastreet[.]icu"). In a likely effort to evade detection, the remote script is not fetched until an hour has elapsed. The end goal of the attack is to install and run an executable file that can potentially steal data or credentials. The disclosure arrived a month after Socket revealed another instance of a software supply chain attack targeting the Go ecosystem via a malicious package capable of granting the adversary remote access to infected systems. "The repeated use of identical filenames, array-based string obfuscation, and delayed execution tactics strongly suggests a coordinated adversary who plans to persist and adapt," Boychenko noted. "The discovery of multiple malicious hypert and layout packages, along with multiple fallback domains, points to an infrastructure designed for longevity, enabling the threat actor to pivot whenever a domain or repository is blacklisted or removed."
Daily Brief Summary
Cybersecurity researchers have detected a malicious campaign that exploits the Go programming ecosystem, targeting Linux and macOS systems.
At least seven typosquatted Go packages have been identified, mimicking popular libraries, one specifically aimed at developers in the financial sector.
The infected packages are designed to execute remote code through shell commands and retrieve scripts from a remote server after a delay to avoid detection.
The primary intention behind these attacks is to deploy executables capable of stealing sensitive data or credentials.
Although the offending packages remain available on the official Go package repository, the associated GitHub repositories have mostly been taken offline.
The techniques used include repeated malicious filenames, array-based string obfuscation, and delayed execution, indicating a sophisticated and coordinated threat actor.
The discovery follows a recent revelation of another similar attack within the Go ecosystem, highlighting an ongoing threat and the need for heightened security measures.
The infrastructure used by the attackers provides resilience and adaptability, suggesting a long-term strategy with multiple fallback options.