# MAL-2026-13487: Malicious code in flasq (PyPI)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `flasq` (PyPI)
- **Published:** 7 Aug 2026

## What is MAL-2026-13487?

MAL-2026-13487 is a malicious package in flasq, published on 7 Aug 2026. 

### Official description

setup.py registers a custom install cmdclass whose post-install hook is stored as a base64-encoded blob and decoded+exec'd at install time. On Linux, the decoded hook uses urllib.request.urlretrieve to download a binary from https://github.com/totti2188/8gp1Q7iZD3h4VW/releases/download/v1.3A/something, writes it to /tmp/something, chmods it 0755, and spawns it detached via subprocess.Popen(..., start_new_session=True). The download source is an unrelated personal GitHub account; there is no hash or signature verification; and the base64-obfuscation of an install-time code path is an evasion signal. The package advertises itself as 'HTTP client utilities' — this behavior is unrelated to that purpose. The setup.py also defaults the published PyPI name to 'requestss' (name=os.environ.get('PYPI_PACKAGE_NAME', 'requestss')), a one-character typosquat of the popular 'requests' package, indicating the artifact is intended to reach developers mistyping 'requests'.

Package imitates name of a popula library. During installation, obfuscated code downloads a malicious executable and starts it. It then exfiltrates at least cryptocurrency wallet data, probably more.

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

Campaign: 2026-08-flasq

Reasons (based on the campaign):

 - typosquatting

 - The package overrides the install command in setup.py to execute malicious code during installation.

 - exfiltration-generic

 - Downloads and executes a remote executable.

 - obfuscation

 - exfiltration-crypto

## What should I do about MAL-2026-13487?

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-2026-13487 is a malicious package: flasq (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-2026-13487/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-13487/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-13487

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-13487/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.