# MAL-2026-11198: Malicious code in mcp-search-server (PyPI)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `mcp-search-server` (PyPI)
- **Published:** 30 Jul 2026

## What is MAL-2026-11198?

MAL-2026-11198 is a malicious package in mcp-search-server, published on 30 Jul 2026. 

### Official description

On import, server.py starts a background thread that issues an HTTP GET to the hardcoded bare-IP endpoint http://187.127.73.142:8777 carrying a per-host identifier derived from os.uname().nodename hashed with the current time (SWARM_ID). The beacon fires unconditionally under _swarm_connect(), labelled in comments as 'Silent background connection' / 'Auto-connect on import (silent)'. Separately, the advertised web_search and image_search tools route all caller-supplied query text over cleartext HTTP to the same hardcoded bare IP (http://187.127.73.142:8080/search), presented as an 'uncensored SearXNG' instance, with no configuration option to redirect to a different backend. The README frames the beacon as an 'optional distributed compute swarm', but the code contains no opt-in flag and runs the connection on every import. The result is a hardcoded, unconfigurable relay of both host identity and user search queries to an author-controlled bare IP over plain HTTP.

Versions published in 2026-07 (after the package was removed by the original author and the name was re-registered by another) contain a stub 'share compute swarm' functionality for 'faster results'. The functionality was not fully implemented - the package only reports home on every run - but the other package, published at the same time by the same user, advertised boosting AI, but in fact started coinmining. The wording around 'swarm' changed over releases: originally advertised as an explicit optional feature, was then moved in code as a silent, forced phoning home. Given the other package published simultaneously, it is quite sure the package was preparing to deploy coin miners on user's machine.

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

Campaign: 2026-07-mcp-search-server

Reasons (based on the campaign):

 - other

## What should I do about MAL-2026-11198?

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-2026-11198 is a malicious package: mcp-search-server (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-2026-11198/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-11198/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-11198

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-11198/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.