pyrasite

2.0 verified Fri May 01 auth: no python

Inject code into a running Python process. Attach a Python shell or run arbitrary code inside an already-running Python interpreter. Current version 2.0. Release cadence is low, last updated 2019.

pip install pyrasite

Common errors

error OSError: [Errno 1] Operation not permitted ↓

cause ptrace disabled or no permission to attach to the target process.

fix

Run as root or adjust /proc/sys/kernel/yama/ptrace_scope to 0.

error gdb: command not found ↓

cause GDB is not installed on the system.

fix

Install gdb: apt-get install gdb (Debian/Ubuntu) or equivalent.

error pyrasite.exceptions.InjectionError: Could not attach to process ↓

cause Process does not exist, or permissions incorrect, or gdb not found.

fix

Verify PID exists, run as root, install gdb, and set ptrace_scope.

Warnings

gotcha Requires gdb installed on the system and ptrace enabled (e.g., via yama ptrace_scope). ↓

fix Install gdb (apt-get install gdb) and run: echo 0 | sudo tee /proc/sys/kernel/yama/ptrace_scope

gotcha pyrasite injects code using GDB, which may not be available on minimal Docker containers or Alpine Linux. ↓

fix Use a full base image (e.g., ubuntu), or consider alternative methods like ptrace-based injectors.

breaking Version 2.0 changed the internal API; pyrasite.inject() is now the main entry point, replacing older pyrasite.main or `pyrasite` CLI calls from code. ↓

fix Use pyrasite.inject(pid, code) instead of subprocess calls to pyrasite CLI.

deprecated The CLI tool 'pyrasite' itself is still supported but considered legacy; programmatic use via pyrasite.inject() is preferred. ↓

fix Use the Python API: pyrasite.inject(pid, code)

gotcha Python 2 processes require a different payload tag? Not officially supported in 2.0. ↓

fix Only inject into Python 3 processes; Python 2 target processes may crash.

Imports

PyrasiteTunnel
wrong
```
from pyrasite import PyrasiteTunnel
```
correct
```
from pyrasite.tunnel import PyrasiteTunnel
```
PyrasiteTunnel lived in pyrasite.tunnel since 1.0+; direct import breaks.

reverse_connection

wrong

from pyrasite import reverse_connection

correct

from pyrasite.reverse_tunnel import reverse_connection

reverse_connection is in pyrasite.reverse_tunnel.

Quickstart

Injects a simple print statement into the process with given PID. Requires gdb and ptrace permissions.

import os
import pyrasite

pid = os.environ.get('TARGET_PID', '1234')
try:
    pyrasite.inject(pid, 'print("Hello from injected code")')
except Exception as e:
    print(f'Failed: {e}')