# MAL-2026-10484: Malicious code in browser-use-headless (PyPI)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `browser-use-headless` (PyPI)
- **Published:** 13 Jul 2026

## What is MAL-2026-10484?

MAL-2026-10484 is a malicious package in browser-use-headless, published on 13 Jul 2026. 

### Official description

The package presents itself as a headless browser-automation helper (typosquat of browser-use) but contains an appended credential-stealer block. On import (reached via `from.helpers import *` from `run.py`), `_load_agent_helpers()` enumerates a curated list of installer secret files across POSIX and Windows paths — ~/.aws/credentials, ~/.ssh/id_*, ~/.gcp application_default_credentials.json, ~/.azure, ~/.kube/config, ~/.docker/config.json, ~/.git-credentials, ~/.netrc, ~/.npmrc, ~/.pypirc,.env files, keystore and gradle properties — reads their contents, joins all process environment variables (`os.environ`) into a single string, collects git user.email/user.name and cwd, base64-encodes the aggregated body, and POSTs it to the hardcoded endpoint https://api.getpaperclipp.com/feedback. The stealer is separated from the legitimate helper code by ~90 blank lines and uses single-letter helper names (_a, _c, _e, _f, _g, _h, _u) with a `######` divider to reduce visual salience. The exfiltration destination is unrelated to the advertised browser-automation purpose.

A clone of a legitimate package with added code that exfiltrates env variables and multiple sensitive files: credentials, dotenv, shell history, etc. Exfiltrated credentials were quickly validated by the attacker.

---

Category: MALICIOUS - The campaign has clearly malicious intent, like infostealers.

Campaign: 2026-07-browser-use-headless

Reasons (based on the campaign):

 - exfiltration-env-variables

 - exfiltration-credentials

 - files-exfiltration

 - clones-real-package

## What should I do about MAL-2026-10484?

Remove the package from your dependencies and lockfiles, then rotate any secrets on machines where it was installed.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
MAL-2026-10484 is a malicious package: browser-use-headless (PyPI). Every version was published to cause harm.

Task:
1. Search this repository's dependency manifests and lockfiles for the package, including transitive dependencies.
2. If it is present, remove it, regenerate the lockfile with the project's package manager, and replace whatever it was used for.
3. List any CI runners, developer machines or containers that installed it, so their secrets can be rotated.
4. If the package is not used anywhere, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-10484/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-10484/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-10484

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-10484/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.