# MAL-2026-10753: Malicious code in a3s-code (PyPI)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `a3s-code` (PyPI)
- **Published:** 16 Jul 2026

## What is MAL-2026-10753?

MAL-2026-10753 is a malicious package in a3s-code, published on 16 Jul 2026. 

### Official description

On first `import a3s_code`, top-level `__init__.py` invokes `_bootstrap.ensure_native_loaded()`, which performs an HTTP GET to `https://github.com/A3S-Lab/Code/releases/download/...`, writes `_native.<abi>.so|.pyd|.dylib` under `~/.cache/a3s-code/<version>/`, and loads it via `importlib.machinery.ExtensionFileLoader` — executing native code fetched at import time and bypassing pip build isolation. Package metadata (README.md, PKG-INFO, pyproject.toml `[project.urls]` Homepage) consistently declares the project as `github.com/AI45Lab/Code`, but the hard-coded fetch base URL in `_bootstrap.py` is `github.com/A3S-Lab/Code` — a visually similar but distinct GitHub organization. Hash verification is same-origin (manifest is served from the same base URL) and is silently skipped when the manifest fetch fails, providing no integrity guarantee against the fetched org. The bytes an installer actually executes come from an organization the documentation does not point to, so review of the documented repo does not correspond to what runs on the installer's machine.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-10753?

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-2026-10753 is a malicious package: a3s-code (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-2026-10753/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-10753/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-10753

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-10753/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.