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I found 10k GitHub repositories distributing Trojan malware

I discovered a large-scale malware distribution campaign on GitHub

orchidfiles.com

June 18, 2026

8 min read

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63/100

Summary

A large-scale malware distribution campaign on GitHub has been identified, involving 10,000 repositories that distribute Trojan malware. These repositories originate from different contributors and share a common pattern, enabling the creation of a script to find them.

Key Takeaways

A large-scale malware distribution campaign was identified on GitHub, involving 10,000 repositories that distribute Trojan malware.
The repositories share a common pattern of frequently deleting and re-pushing commits that only update the readme file with a link to a zip archive.
The zip files contain executable files that are detected as Trojans when submitted directly, despite showing no viruses when the links are scanned on VirusTotal.
A script was developed to analyze GitHub repositories based on specific patterns, focusing on those that are updated every few hours.

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Community Sentiment

Negative

Positives

The ability to audit open-source software provides a level of transparency that proprietary software lacks, allowing users to verify the code they run.
Using password managers can enhance security by preventing users from entering credentials on phishing sites, highlighting the importance of good security practices.

Concerns

The prevalence of Trojan malware in GitHub repositories raises serious concerns about the reliability of open-source software as a safe option for developers.
GitHub's lack of effective moderation for malicious repositories undermines trust in the platform, making it a risky environment for users seeking legitimate software.