The Python Package Index (PyPI) has launched an innovative feature called ‘Project Archival’ to strengthen security in the open-source ecosystem. This system allows project maintainers to archive their projects, clearly signaling to users that no further updates or maintenance will occur.
Archived projects will remain available for download on PyPI, but users will see a warning about the project’s maintenance status. This proactive measure empowers developers to make informed decisions about their dependencies, helping them avoid outdated and potentially vulnerable packages.
Addressing Supply Chain Security Risks
Project archiving responds strategically to the rising concerns about supply chain security in open-source software. Malicious actors often exploit abandoned projects by hijacking developer accounts and pushing harmful updates. By enabling maintainers to archive their projects, PyPI significantly lowers the risk of such attacks and improves communication about a project’s lifecycle.
The archiving feature also aims to reduce the number of support requests from users. By clearly communicating a project’s status, it helps users determine whether a project is still actively maintained or if they should look for alternatives.
How the Archiving Process Works
According to a blog post from Trail of Bits, the team behind PyPI’s new archival system, project owners can mark their projects as archived. This status informs users that no further updates, fixes, or maintenance will take place. While it’s advisable for maintainers to release a final version before archiving—explaining their decision—this step is not mandatory.
Maintainers can unarchive their projects at any time if they choose to resume development. The system uses a LifecycleStatus model, originally developed for project quarantine, to facilitate transitions between different project statuses.
When a project owner selects the ‘Archive Project’ option in the PyPI settings, the platform automatically updates the project’s metadata to reflect its new status.
Future Enhancements and Project Statuses
Trail of Bits plans to expand project status options further, introducing categories like ‘deprecated,’ ‘feature-complete,’ and ‘unmaintained.’ These additional statuses will give users even clearer insights into a project’s condition.
The warning banner that accompanies archived projects serves as a crucial reminder for developers to seek actively maintained alternatives. Relying on outdated packages can pose security risks. Attackers often target abandoned projects, taking control of unmaintained packages and injecting malicious code through updates that may occur years after the last legitimate release.
In some cases, maintainers choose to delete their projects when they stop development, leading to scenarios like ‘Revival Hijack’ attacks. By offering an archiving option, PyPI enhances security and mitigates these risks.
