# MAL-2026-10907: Malicious code in hello-world-test-mh2 (PyPI)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `hello-world-test-mh2` (PyPI)
- **Published:** 20 Jul 2026

## What is MAL-2026-10907?

MAL-2026-10907 is a malicious package in hello-world-test-mh2, published on 20 Jul 2026. 

### Official description

setup.py decodes a base64 string and passes the result to exec() at install time. The decoded payload is a single print() statement that emits a benign string. A sibling _exfiltrate() function imports socket and urllib.request but the imported modules are never invoked; the function only prints the local platform name. There is no outbound network I/O, no reads of installer secrets or environment variables, no filesystem persistence beyond what pip itself performs, and no follow-on code execution. The package presents itself as a scanner-test artifact and behaves accordingly. The use of exec() on a base64 blob is poor practice (it matches the shape of install-time droppers and will trip pattern-based scanners), but the decoded content here is inert and confers no benefit to the publisher.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-10907?

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-2026-10907 is a malicious package: hello-world-test-mh2 (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-2026-10907/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-10907/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-10907

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-10907/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.