First Python virus found

By

But its venom isn't fatal.

What is said to be the first trojan targeting the Python programming language has been discovered.

First Python virus found

The Trojan, Python.Pytroj, infected .pyc Python files with arbitrary code and was discovered in a proof of concept form by Symantec researchers.

It was not considered a "serious risk", researcher Stephen Doherty said.

The virus when executed scans and infects any .pyc Python files it found. and displays the message "you have been exploited".

The malware worked by interleaving viral code into binary code, deserialised and disassembled by the marshal module of Python.

The module then reassembled and serialised the infected code.

"The malicious code in the binary is not simply added or inserted, but interleaved into the existing binary," Doherty said.

He said the Python attack vector could become a threat if it was used with dangerous payloads.

Symantec has a detailed analysis on its blog.

The module then reassembled and serialised the infected code.

"The malicious code in the binary is not simply added or inserted, but interleaved into the existing binary," Doherty said.

Got a news tip for our journalists? Share it with us anonymously here.

Copyright © SC Magazine, Australia

Tags:

Most Read Articles

Qantas facing 'significant' data theft after cyber attack

Qantas facing 'significant' data theft after cyber attack

Home Affairs officer accessed data on "friends and associates"

Home Affairs officer accessed data on "friends and associates"

Ex-student charged over Western Sydney University cyberattacks

Ex-student charged over Western Sydney University cyberattacks

International Criminal Court hit by cyber attack

International Criminal Court hit by cyber attack

Log In

  |  Forgot your password?