# MAL-2026-13380: Malicious code in uncrypt (PyPI)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `uncrypt` (PyPI)
- **Published:** 5 Aug 2026

## What is MAL-2026-13380?

MAL-2026-13380 is a malicious package in uncrypt, published on 5 Aug 2026. 

### Official description

The package presents itself as a trivial Python XOR/hex helper, but `uncrypt/__init__.py` executes `_run_security_launcher()` at module top level, which platform-branches to Windows or Linux and silently `subprocess.Popen`s a bundled native binary from `uncrypt/assets/` (`uncrypt.exe` on Windows, `uncrypt` ELF on Linux) with `close_fds=True` and, on Windows, `CREATE_NO_WINDOW`; exceptions from the launch are swallowed. The shipped Linux ELF (SHA256 d1fbef0e9364f498b25ecd3e5c6adc34ac5d643ec3180753efc48379f4cc5a1f) dynamically links libcurl (`curl_easy_init/setopt/perform`) and libX11 (`XOpenDisplay`, `XGetImage`) and imports host/user/network enumeration primitives (`gethostname`, `getifaddrs`, `getpwuid`, `getuid`, `getenv`, `statvfs`) together with C++ `filesystem::directory_iterator`, `read_symlink`, and `copy_file`. None of this is required by the advertised XOR/hex functionality in `core.py`; the combination of screen capture, host and interface enumeration, filesystem walking, and libcurl-based network I/O, invoked covertly on every `import uncrypt`, matches a host stealer/spyware payload wrapped behind a benign Python facade.

During import, the package silently starts the embedded executable which existence is not disclosed to the user. Dynamic analysis suggests the code harvests browser data and communicates with an external domain.

---

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

Campaign: 2026-08-uncrypt

Reasons (based on the campaign):

 - The package contains code to exfiltrate basic data from the system, like IP or username. It has a limited risk.

 - obfuscation

 - exfiltration-browser-data

 - The package contains code to detect if it is running in a sandbox environment.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-13380?

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-2026-13380 is a malicious package: uncrypt (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-2026-13380/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-13380/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-13380

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-13380/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.