evil-py-argo-shellPyPI
Advisory published Updated
evil-py-argo-shell is a confirmed malicious PyPI package (MAL-2025-191722) that executes malicious code on install (malicious versions 0.1.0, 0.1.1, 0.1.2). Do not install it — remove it immediately and rotate any exposed credentials.
Malicious code in evil-py-argo-shell (PyPI)
What this malware does
Package demonstrate potentially malicious execution of system commands, and seems to be used for pentesting purposes
Category: PROBABLY_PENTEST - Packages looking like typical pentest packages, but also anything that looks like testing, exploring pre-prepared kits, research & co, with clearly low-harm possibilities.
Campaign: GENERIC-simple-tests
Reasons (based on the campaign):
- The package overrides the install command in setup.py to execute malicious code during installation.
Malicious versions
Indicators of compromise (SHA-256)
Detection & response playbook
Malicious packageFind it
Search your lockfiles and build artifacts for evil-py-argo-shell (3 malicious versions).
If you installed it — respond
Remove evil-py-argo-shell from your project and lockfile, then assume any secrets accessible to the build or runtime were exposed: rotate API keys, tokens, and credentials, and audit for unexpected outbound activity or persistence.
Did it already run?
If evil-py-argo-shell 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
Campaign
References
Credits
- Kamil Mańkowski (kam193)
Detect & block this
O3 blocks evil-py-argo-shell-class packages before install and in CI — and if it already ran, its runtime egress monitoring catches the malicious outbound activity and severs the channel.