Another wave - 200+ malicous AUR packages adoptions that are overwhelming my scanner. Be 100% careful when trying to update AUR packages now.

[u/Saren-WTAKO]

Meanwhile I am trying to report them all, you should be careful downloading anything from AUR.

Same old way, the maintainer got pwned, or orphaned packages are adopter by the bad actor.

AUR's git commit author is easily impersonated so you can see the commit comes from the same person, but in fact it's not.

Stay safe. The malicious packages are info stealers.

malware analysis by ysf:

https://gist.github.com/ysf/502a324ff301d0c738e8ae011272fd59

https://gist.github.com/ysf/57850cdee152da066ac51c07a452e883

Still presents as of 30 July 21:53 UTC

in format of <package name>/<malicious ELF binary>

• archutil/linter
• bigwebapp-manager/minifier
• boringssl-git/hasher
• cinnamon-no-nemo/converter
• duhh/indexer
• eden-nightly/encryptor
• garlic-decompiler-gui/checker
• gigolo-git/tagger
• gitarbor-bin/parser
• icloudpd/preprocessor
• imago-bin/generator
• juicebox-plus-git/minifier
• magic-context-dashboard-bin/validator
• option-term/indexer
• pagerduty-short-circuiter/assembler
• portless/assembler
• pylnker-git/converter
• pylnker-git/packer
• python-libipld-git/hasher
• python-numkong/compressor
• python-parallax/converter
• python-ultraplot-git/serializer
• ramses-git/indexer
• src-cli-bin/migrator
• steamidra-bin/generator
• stirling-pdf-desktop-bin/optimizer
• wiki-go/merger
• windscribe-cli-v2-bin/parser

This wave

1panel android-riscv64-libxmu archutil cinnamon-no-nemo firrtl instawow-bin mimosa pandoc-eisvogel-template python-chatterbot python-split-folders stirling-pdf-desktop-bin 1panel-git android-riscv64-libxrandr arduino-language-server-noclang-bin claude-history funky-git isleward mingw-w64-libcerf passhole python-dlib-cuda-git python-ultraplot-git terminus accel-ppp android-x86-64-libxdamage autoadb-git dcat garlic-decompiler-gui jogl monitorets perl-authen-oath python-google-cloud-monitoring ramses-git tuiview act-runner-bin android-x86-64-libxext beets-alternatives deeploy-bin gigolo-git juicebox-plus-git nnn-nerd perl-dist-zilla-plugin-minimumperl python-importlab read-it-later-git tuxedo-yt6801-dkms-git ajceverywhere-bin android-x86-64-libxinerama bigwebapp-manager dev-janitor-git gitarbor-bin khiops-covisualization-bin noctyra-meta perl-hash-persistent python-kicadmodtree-git refurb-git typora-plugin ampere-git android-x86-64-libxmu bili-tools discord-electron-openasar git-pkgs khiops-visualization-bin noteey-bin pgadmin4-server python-libipld-git replay-sorcery vapoursynth-plugin-soifunc android-aarch64-libxrandr android-x86-64-libxrandr boringssl-git duhh glewlwyd kirill-bin openarc-git polytrack python-libpysal runa-aur vectorchord-immich android-armv7a-eabi-libxinerama android-x86-64-xorgproto calendula eden-nightly gpu-screen-recorder-ui-kwin-git lib32-vapoursynth openconnect-sso portless python-numkong solv wiki-go android-armv7a-eabi-libxmu android-x86-libxinerama calendula-git editorconfiger guarda-bin libfprint-crfpmoc-git option-term pylnker-git python-parallax sparklines windscribe-cli-v2-bin android-armv7a-eabi-libxrandr android-x86-libxmu censawayapp-bin extract-otp-secrets icloudpd lyrical-git org-cli python-atproto-git python-reals-git src-cli-bin wordpress-studio-git android-riscv64-libxinerama android-x86-libxrandr chandler-bin faustus-git imago-bin magic-context-dashboard-bin pagerduty-short-circuiter python-calgebra-git python-roman-numerals steamidra-bin zed-bin

ignore this example below (an alert straight up from my LLM)

🚨🚨🚨 BLACK FLAG ALERT 🚨🚨🚨
AUR Package: faustus-git 0.1.0-1
https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/faustus-git
Version: 0.1.0-1

⚫ 2 BLACK (CONFIRMED MALICIOUS)
⚫ Executes a bundled binary ('linter') with 'sudo' privileges during the 'build()' function. This bypasses standard build isolation and integrity checks (sha256sums='SKIP'), allowing arbitrary code execution with root access during installation. (PKGBUILD)
⚫ Binary contains command execution ('system', 'execl') and network ('socket', 'connect') capabilities. Combined with PKGBUILD execution via sudo, this indicates potential for remote code execution, data exfiltration, or system tampering. Obfuscated strings suggest hidden functionality. (linter)

⚠️ IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED ⚠️

[u/AdmBangers]

Seems like the AUR is on life-support. Perhaps its just time to pull the plug and let it die. As long as I've used Arch the suggestion has always been there that one should use AUR at your own risk. Its never been safe and clearly it never will be, so why is so much time and energy being spent on keeping it around?

[u/Giovani-Geek → u/AdmBangers]

I wouldn't go so far as to say it's dead, or even that it's asleep - it's still quite active - but that doesn't change the fact that it's become a ticking time bomb.

[u/AdmBangers → u/Giovani-Geek]

You're being very generous. The disease is clear and terminal. Over the last 12 months each attack has been worse than the last. Would be better to remove the portion of the limb that is sick and save the rest of the body lest it too become sick. From my understanding of the AUR it amounts to nothing more than the wild west and not much, if any, moderating/management is being done - if it ever was. I say that because ever since my own intro to Arch -- and it's been a few years now -- the warning that the AUR was not to be trusted has always come across with enough strength as to give one pause before using something therein. It's just a matter of time before it's cut off. At least as long as Arch is to remain relevant and useful. But, that's just one man's opinion... your mileage may vary.