AI detected potential malware

Information

This package has been flagged by AI detection systems as potentially containing malware. It may perform harmful activities such as unauthorized data access, code injection, or other malicious operations.

Consider that consuming this package may pose significant security risks. A detailed review of the package’s behavior and code is recommended before use.

AI-detected potential malware refers to software packages identified by AI algorithms as likely containing malicious code or behavior. These detections are based on patterns, anomalies, and known malicious behaviors within the code.

Risks of AI Detected Potential Malware:

• Data Theft: Potential malware can steal sensitive information such as credentials, personal data, and financial details.
• System Compromise: Malware can install backdoors, enabling unauthorized access and control over systems.
• Service Disruption: Potential malware can cause system crashes, data corruption, and disruption of services.
• Propagation: Potential malware can spread to other systems, increasing the scope and impact of the attack.

Because of the significant risks posed by potential malware, Socket’s AI-powered threat detection flags these packages as high severity risks:

• Proactive Detection: AI-based detection allows for early identification of potentially malicious packages, enabling proactive mitigation before significant harm occurs.
• Anomaly Detection: AI systems can identify unusual patterns and behaviors that may indicate malicious intent, even in the absence of known malware signatures.
• Compliance and Trust: Identifying and mitigating potential malware helps maintain compliance with security standards and preserves user trust.

Recommended actions

Investigate the Dependency:

1. Verify the Claims: Check the official repository, issue trackers, and recent changes to confirm the presence of potential malware.
2. Evaluate the Impact: Assess the potential impact of the malware on your project and determine the urgency of removal.
3. Conduct a Security Review: Perform a thorough security review to ensure no further malicious activities are present.

Replace the Dependency:

1. Find an Alternative Library: Search for other libraries that provide similar functionality but are free of potential malware.
2. Fork and Maintain: If no suitable alternatives exist, consider forking the original repository and maintaining your own version without the malicious code. This ensures that you retain control over the dependency.

Immediate Removal:

1. Remove the Potential Malware: Immediately remove the flagged package from your codebase to prevent any further risk.
2. Notify Stakeholders: Inform your team and stakeholders about the removal and the reasons behind it.

Examples

• Example 1: Potential Malware Detected in a Python Package:
  • File: coverage
  • Description: The coverage package was flagged by AI as potentially containing malicious code. Further investigation is required to confirm the threat.

Detection Method

Socket's AI-powered security system employs advanced static code analysis to scrutinize open-source packages. When a package raises suspicion, a Large Language Model (LLM) performs an in-depth evaluation. If the LLM identifies strong indicators of malicious content within the package, the "AI detected potential malware" alert is generated. These alerts undergo subsequent human review to confirm the threat level (in which it becomes labeled as "Known Malware") or adjust the classification if necessary.

Additional resources

Managing AI-detected potential malware in your projects is crucial for maintaining security and trust. By leveraging Socket’s alert system, you can identify and address potential threats posed by malware, ensuring a secure development environment. For more detailed guidance, visit the Socket Documentation.

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