What does the zscaner 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 zscaner are malicious?

The following PyPI versions of zscaner are flagged malicious: 1.2.0, 1.3.0. Treat any of these as compromised.

How do I remediate zscaner if I installed it?

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

If zscaner 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 zscaner part of a known attack campaign?

Yes — zscaner is associated with the 2025-04-zscaner 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 zscaner across my projects, lockfiles, and CI pipelines?

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

Malicious package

zscanerPyPI

Advisory published Apr 20, 2025Updated Dec 12, 2025

zscaner is a confirmed malicious PyPI package (MAL-2025-191944) that steals credentials and exfiltrates sensitive data (malicious versions 1.2.0, 1.3.0). Do not install it — remove it immediately and rotate any exposed credentials.

Malicious code in zscaner (PyPI)

MAL-2025-191944

Immediate action

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

pip uninstall zscaner

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

1.2.01.3.0

Indicators of compromise (SHA-256)

6668043ae2bc7032a11a782861883035f06c1553fa9a8b2f1ed9f2214c2683de

ee09d48ac6f9e7d0460c2a2bc7c9aaae013ce04ac342eb164683b214616e56d1

6f576cbb5c69265f66e820606e885aa1c9edc89fae12046bb3a7c29cca43eee8

Detection & response playbook

Credential / info stealer

Find it
Search your lockfiles and build artifacts for zscaner (2 malicious versions).
If you installed it — respond
zscaner 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 zscaner 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. zscaner on PyPI has been identified as a malicious package (versions 1.2.0, 1.3.0 flagged). It should be removed immediately — do not install or keep it in your dependency tree.

Campaign

2025-04-zscaner

References

bad-packages.kam193.eu

Credits

Kamil Mańkowski (kam193)

Detect & block this

O3 blocks zscaner-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

Explore

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