this post was submitted on 18 Jul 2025
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[PSA] Malware distributed on the AUR (lists.archlinux.org)
submitted 4 days ago by Xylight@lemdro.id to c/linux@lemmy.ml
83 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

On the 16th of July, at around 8pm UTC+2, a malicious AUR package was uploaded to the AUR. Two other malicious packages were uploaded by the same user a few hours later. These packages were installing a script coming from the same GitHub repository that was identified as a Remote Access Trojan (RAT).

The affected malicious packages are:

  • librewolf-fix-bin
  • firefox-patch-bin
  • zen-browser-patched-bin

The Arch Linux team addressed the issue as soon as they became aware of the situation. As of today, 18th of July, at around 6pm UTC+2, the offending packages have been deleted from the AUR.

We strongly encourage users that may have installed one of these packages to remove them from their system and to take the necessary measures in order to ensure they were not compromised.

Follow up

There are more packages with this malware found.

  • minecraft-cracked
  • ttf-ms-fonts-all
  • vesktop-bin-patched
  • ttf-all-ms-fonts

What to do

If you installed any of these packages, check your running processes for one named systemd-initd (this is the RAT).

The suspicious packages have a patch from this now-inaccessible Codeberg repo: https://codeberg.org/arch_lover3/browser-patch

The Arch maintainers have been informed of all this already and are investigating.

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[–] DirkMcCallahan@lemmy.world 34 points 4 days ago (26 children)

This is why I felt uncomfortable when I first switched to Linux and kept reading that I didn't need to worry about viruses as long as I didn't click on dodgy links and only installed from trusted sources. I'm sure I'm betraying my lack of security knowledge here, but that always seemed a bit too easy.

[–] mark@social.cool110.xyz 122 points 4 days ago (18 children)

@DirkMcCallahan @Tundra The AUR isn't a trusted source, but most of the the Arch cult forget to mention that.

[–] copygirl@lemmy.blahaj.zone 111 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (4 children)

most of the the Arch cult forget to mention that

The "Arch cult's" holy book, the ArchWiki, states the following pretty clearly:

Warning: AUR packages are user-produced content. These PKGBUILDs are completely unofficial and have not been thoroughly vetted. Any use of the provided files is at your own risk.

Mention of one's use of the AUR for their needs doesn't need to come with a disclaimer.
People who don't read or don't use their brain are going to keep not doing so, regardless.

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