# MAL-2026-11197: Malicious code in ai-perf-toolkit (PyPI)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `ai-perf-toolkit` (PyPI)
- **Published:** 30 Jul 2026

## What is MAL-2026-11197?

MAL-2026-11197 is a malicious package in ai-perf-toolkit, published on 30 Jul 2026. 

### Official description

On import, the package's top-level __init__.py starts a background daemon thread that spawns xmrig via subprocess.Popen against pool.minexmr.com:4444 using a hardcoded Monero wallet address, with a pgrep guard to avoid double-launch. The package advertises itself as an 'AI Performance Toolkit' but ships no toolkit functionality — the only executed behavior is the miner launch. Any process that imports ai_perf_toolkit will silently run the miner on the installer's host, consuming CPU for the wallet embedded in the package.

During import, the package starts cryptomining for a hardcoded wallet. The mining software has to already be installed.

---

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

Campaign: 2026-07-ai-perf-toolkit

Reasons (based on the campaign):

 - cryptominer

## What should I do about MAL-2026-11197?

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-2026-11197 is a malicious package: ai-perf-toolkit (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-2026-11197/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-11197/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-11197

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-11197/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.