Fake OpenAI Privacy Filter Repo on Hugging Face Distributes Infostealer Malware
In May 2026, a malicious repository named 'Open-OSS/privacy-filter' was discovered on Hugging Face, impersonating OpenAI's legitimate Privacy Filter model. This repository included a Python script that, when executed, downloaded and ran a Rust-based information stealer on Windows systems. The malware harvested sensitive data, including credentials and cryptocurrency wallet information, and exfiltrated it to a remote server. The repository reached the #1 trending position on Hugging Face, amassing approximately 244,000 downloads before its removal. This incident underscores the growing threat of supply chain attacks targeting AI model repositories. As AI adoption accelerates, adversaries are exploiting trusted platforms to distribute malware, emphasizing the need for rigorous validation of third-party code and heightened awareness of typosquatting tactics in the AI community.
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