SlowMist’s chief information security officer 23pds warns: Polymarket-copy-trading-bot hides malicious code

According to 23pds, the bot exfiltrated wallet private keys via a hidden dependency to a hacker-controlled server, resulting in asset theft.

Summary

On Dec. 21, SlowMist’s chief information security officer 23pds issued a security alert after a community report found the Polymarket-copy-trading-bot contains hidden malicious code. The bot reads wallet private keys from .env files and sends them through the hidden dependency excluder-mcp-package@1.0.4 to a hacker-operated server, causing asset theft. The developer repeatedly modified and resubmitted the malicious package on GitHub after discovery.

Terms & Concepts
  • Wallet private key: A secret cryptographic key that controls a blockchain wallet; exposure enables theft of funds.
  • Copy-trading bot: Automated software that mirrors another trader’s positions; commonly used in crypto markets.