MAL-2026-15859 Malicious code in 0requests (PyPI)

The package name '0requests' is a one-character variant of the popular PyPI package 'requests'. On import of the top-level package, init.py enumerates os.environ and collects every variable whose name begins with SECRET, API, TOKEN, or KEY, then opens a TCP socket to a host/port taken from the TS_HOST and TS_PORT environment variables and sends the serialized dictionary of credential-shaped variables. The same import path spawns a python subprocess that connects to the same TS_HOST:TS_PORT, sends a 'SHELL' marker, and sleeps to keep the socket open, providing a remote-controlled shell channel on the host. Console output includes '0requests installed – targeting requests' and a '[typosquat] exfiltrating' log line, confirming intent.

During import, the code exfiltrates potentially sensitive env variables. In all analyzed versions the exfiltration target was a localhost, suggesting it was just a test.

Category: PROBABLY_PENTEST - Packages looking like typical pentest packages, but also anything that looks like testing, exploring pre-prepared kits, research & co, with clearly low-harm possibilities.

Campaign: 2026-09-0requests

Reasons (based on the campaign):

• exfiltration-env-variables

• typosquatting