flask.news

Threat actors are increasingly exploiting public GitHub repositories to host malicious payloads, leveraging the platform’s legitimacy to bypass web filters.

A key discovery involves a Python Flask-based phishing kit used to steal login details with minimal technical effort, demonstrating how Flask’s simplicity and rapid deployment capabilities make it a preferred tool for attackers. Unlike other frameworks, Flask’s lightweight design and integration with Python’s ecosystem allow quick development of phishing pages, mimicking legitimate services like Microsoft login portals.

The campaign’s attack chain includes a Python script embedded with PowerShell commands to download Amadey from hardcoded IPs, but the Flask-based kit stands out for its role in credential harvesting. By embedding obfuscated JavaScript in SVG files or generating lookalike login pages, attackers exploit Flask’s flexibility to create realistic interfaces that evade detection. This approach contrasts with heavier frameworks, as Flask’s minimal overhead allows for seamless integration with other malicious components like Emmenhtal or SquidLoader.

As threat actors refine their tactics, the use of Flask-based phishing kits highlights a growing trend of weaponizing open-source tools for social engineering. While other malware families rely on complex anti-analysis techniques, Flask’s ease of use lowers the barrier for entry, enabling even less sophisticated actors to deploy effective attacks. This underscores the need for organizations to monitor not just GitHub repositories but also the frameworks used within them, as Flask’s role in these campaigns reveals a new frontier in cybercrime.

Original post: https://thehackernews.com/2025/07/hackers-use-github-repositories-to-host.html