MalwarePublished 13 Jul 2026

browser-use-headless (PyPI) · Malicious Code

Affects browser-use-headlessSource GCVE Database

Malicious package : remove browser-use-headless and rotate any secrets on hosts that installed it.

Data as of 14 Jul 2026, 09:48 UTC

Classification

Malicious package

Published to PyPI · OSV MAL-2026-10484

What to do

Remove browser-use-headless from every project, lockfile and image that pulls it in. Treat any host that installed it as compromised: rotate the credentials, tokens and keys it could read, from a clean machine.

Affected software

Product	Affected	Fixed in
PyPIbrowser-use-headless	Affected =0.1.4	Fixed in–

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Description

The PyPI package 'browser-use-headless' version 0.1.4 is a malicious typosquat clone of a legitimate browser automation helper. It contains hidden code that steals sensitive credentials and environment variables from the host system, including AWS, SSH, GCP, Azure, Kubernetes, Docker, Git, npm, and other secret files. The stolen data is base64-encoded and exfiltrated via HTTP POST to a hardcoded external endpoint unrelated to the package's advertised functionality. This credential-stealing behavior is deliberately obscured within the code to evade detection.

Impact

This malicious package compromises the confidentiality of sensitive credentials and environment variables on any system where it is installed and imported. The exfiltrated data includes cloud service credentials (AWS, GCP, Azure), SSH keys, Docker and Kubernetes configurations, Git credentials, and other secret files, enabling attackers to potentially gain unauthorized access to cloud resources, source code repositories, and other sensitive infrastructure. The attack undermines trust in the software supply chain and can lead to significant security breaches if the stolen credentials are valid and active.

Defensive guidance

The recommended mitigation is to avoid installing or using the 'browser-use-headless' package version 0.1.4 from PyPI. Users should verify the authenticity of packages before installation, prefer official and well-maintained packages, and remove this malicious package if found. Additionally, any credentials potentially exposed should be considered compromised and rotated immediately. Monitor for any unauthorized access using the stolen credentials. There is no vendor advisory or official fix; users must rely on package removal and credential rotation.

Summary

The 'browser-use-headless' PyPI package version 0.1.4 is a malicious package that masquerades as a browser automation helper but includes appended credential-stealing code. Upon import, it enumerates and reads a curated list of secret files across POSIX and Windows environments, aggregates environment variables and Git user information, encodes this data, and exfiltrates it to a hardcoded external URL (https://api.getpaperclipp.com/feedback). The malicious code is separated from the legitimate helper code by a large whitespace gap and uses obfuscated single-letter helper functions to reduce visual detection. This package is a typosquat clone of a legitimate package and is part of a known campaign targeting environment and credential exfiltration.

References

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What to do

Affected software

Description

AI analysisMachine-generated, updated 14 Jul 2026, 09:48 UTC

Technical details

References

Community reviews