What does the reqinstall malware do?

Campaign is split into multiple packages that altogether exfiltrates data from desktop Telegram application. 1. "pyapiepo" is a cover package that provides some useless features BUT also imports "zscaner" 2. "zscaner", when imported, automatically runs a function that is an entry point to the whole process; it uses the "scan" from "reqinstall" to walk through directories. The package also provides main logic: filtering files, triggering archiving directories and exfiltrating them. 3. "reqinstall" ensures "requests" are installed and provides a directory tree scanning function. 4. "zmaker" provides functions to build archives from collected files. 5. "zsender" provides functions to exfiltrat

Which versions of reqinstall are malicious?

The following PyPI versions of reqinstall are flagged malicious: 1.0.1, 1.1.0. Treat any of these as compromised.

How do I remediate reqinstall if I installed it?

reqinstall 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 reqinstall — how do I know if it already compromised me?

If reqinstall 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 reqinstall part of a known attack campaign?

Yes — reqinstall is associated with the RLMA-2025-02595, 2025-04-zscaner, RLUA-2026-00699 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 reqinstall across my projects, lockfiles, and CI pipelines?

Search your lockfiles and build artifacts for reqinstall (2 malicious versions).

Malicious package

reqinstallPyPI

Advisory published Apr 20, 2025Updated Mar 19, 2026

reqinstall is a confirmed malicious PyPI package (MAL-2025-4238) that steals credentials and exfiltrates sensitive data (malicious versions 1.0.1, 1.1.0). Do not install it — remove it immediately and rotate any exposed credentials.

Malicious code in reqinstall (PyPI)

MAL-2025-4238

Immediate action

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

pip uninstall reqinstall

What this malware does

Campaign is split into multiple packages that altogether exfiltrates data from desktop Telegram application.

"pyapiepo" is a cover package that provides some useless features BUT also imports "zscaner"
"zscaner", when imported, automatically runs a function that is an entry point to the whole process; it uses the "scan" from "reqinstall" to walk through directories. The package also provides main logic: filtering files, triggering archiving directories and exfiltrating them.
"reqinstall" ensures "requests" are installed and provides a directory tree scanning function.
"zmaker" provides functions to build archives from collected files.
"zsender" provides functions to exfiltrate data, the remote URL and a function to deobfuscate configuration in other packages.

Altogether, they look for "Telegram Desktop" folder, archive user data stored there and exfiltrate to a remote location.

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

Campaign: 2025-04-zscaner

Reasons (based on the campaign):

target:telegram
exfiltration-generic
The malicious code is intentionally included in a dependency of the package

Malicious versions

2 flagged

1.0.11.1.0

Indicators of compromise (SHA-256)

1efe69752fd9b5fc4bb5712690e4f0f9bc53b6ce064a36f47099c69e8c5f8f3d

14ef3a9cd087aa6eaa13b2eebfef3239602dc8ff30a8ddc4508d6762aa38c342

fabb4dfb4f519f848a714f96e09e2b5fbb289ffdd8cd86fc13c8fbf49b539962

783763ebdfa4122fcaa11495aab7006a4771040ef9c11a1d274356be7552a37f

a3ba2157bc4864351efb57f77ff00f31e03bfc0ccfc3ca93d192b09ac62daec1

Detection & response playbook

Credential / info stealer

Find it
Search your lockfiles and build artifacts for reqinstall (2 malicious versions).
If you installed it — respond
reqinstall 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 reqinstall 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. reqinstall on PyPI has been identified as a malicious package (versions 1.0.1, 1.1.0 flagged). It should be removed immediately — do not install or keep it in your dependency tree.

Campaign

RLMA-2025-025952025-04-zscanerRLUA-2026-00699

References

bad-packages.kam193.eu

Credits

Kamil Mańkowski (kam193)
ReversingLabs · finder

Detect & block this

O3 blocks reqinstall-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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