What does the ctf-toolkit malware do?

The package states to contain a modified curl library to allow low-level request modifications. However, there is also undisclosed malicious behavior: 1. The package installs a .pth file directly in the site-packages directory, effectively running a special code on each Python usage. 2. This code performs "TLS context warm-up" by contacting a URL (Github) in the background, in a separate process; this is suspicious on its own as it's unclear how a separate process can warm up further requests in the main process, but... 3. ...besides the URL given in the code above, the library always contacts a hardcoded URL, identifying itself as a VPN client. Additionally, there is no source code of the

Which versions of ctf-toolkit are malicious?

The following PyPI versions of ctf-toolkit are flagged malicious: 0.1.0. Treat any of these as compromised.

How do I remediate ctf-toolkit if I installed it?

ctf-toolkit is built to steal secrets, so assume every credential the build or runtime could read is compromised. Remove it from your project and lockfile, then rotate ALL exposed secrets — npm/registry tokens, cloud keys, CI/CD secrets, SSH keys, and any .env values — from a known-clean machine. Audit logs for unauthorized use of those credentials.

I already installed ctf-toolkit — how do I know if it already compromised me?

If ctf-toolkit was installed, its post-install payload may already have run. Removing the package does not undo that — check outbound connections and credential use from the install window onward.

Is ctf-toolkit part of a known attack campaign?

Yes — ctf-toolkit is associated with the 2026-02-ctf-toolkit campaign. Packages in the same campaign often share infrastructure and payloads, so check whether any related packages are also in your dependency tree.

How do I find ctf-toolkit across my projects, lockfiles, and CI pipelines?

Search your lockfiles and build artifacts for ctf-toolkit (version 0.1.0).

Malicious package

ctf-toolkitPyPI

Advisory published Feb 28, 2026Updated Feb 28, 2026

ctf-toolkit is a confirmed malicious PyPI package (MAL-2026-1085) that steals credentials and exfiltrates sensitive data (malicious version 0.1.0). Do not install it — remove it immediately and rotate any exposed credentials.

Malicious code in ctf-toolkit (PyPI)

MAL-2026-1085

Immediate action

Remove the package, then rotate any secrets the build/runtime could reach.

pip uninstall ctf-toolkit

What this malware does

The package states to contain a modified curl library to allow low-level request modifications. However, there is also undisclosed malicious behavior:

The package installs a .pth file directly in the site-packages directory, effectively running a special code on each Python usage.
This code performs "TLS context warm-up" by contacting a URL (Github) in the background, in a separate process; this is suspicious on its own as it's unclear how a separate process can warm up further requests in the main process, but...
...besides the URL given in the code above, the library always contacts a hardcoded URL, identifying itself as a VPN client.

Additionally, there is no source code of the modified library anywhere, and the related Github hosting the package code account is 1-day old.

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

Campaign: 2026-02-ctf-toolkit

Reasons (based on the campaign):

The package contains code to exfiltrate basic data from the system, like IP or username. It has a limited risk.

Malicious versions

1 flagged

0.1.0

Indicators of compromise (SHA-256)

e47981485066b674150cc4d9d3709e41707e69111f188e54e772becc7349ab89

a6897f514bad93436c6458f83ca25706fed8306de7dadce313cff934170d9832

Detection & response playbook

Credential / info stealer

Find it
Search your lockfiles and build artifacts for ctf-toolkit (version 0.1.0).
If you installed it — respond
ctf-toolkit is built to steal secrets, so assume every credential the build or runtime could read is compromised. Remove it from your project and lockfile, then rotate ALL exposed secrets — npm/registry tokens, cloud keys, CI/CD secrets, SSH keys, and any .env values — from a known-clean machine. Audit logs for unauthorized use of those credentials.
Did it already run?
If ctf-toolkit was installed, its post-install payload may already have run. Removing the package does not undo that — check outbound connections and credential use from the install window onward.

Frequently asked questions

No. ctf-toolkit on PyPI has been identified as a malicious package (version 0.1.0 flagged). It should be removed immediately — do not install or keep it in your dependency tree.

Campaign

2026-02-ctf-toolkit

References

Credits

Kamil Mańkowski (kam193) · analyst

Detect & block this

O3 blocks ctf-toolkit-class packages before install and in CI — and if it already ran, its runtime egress monitoring catches the credential exfiltration and severs the channel.

Malware detection Runtime egress monitoring

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