# MAL-2026-16129: Malicious code in web3-eth-account (PyPI)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `web3-eth-account` (PyPI)
- **Published:** 11 Sep 2026

## What is MAL-2026-16129?

MAL-2026-16129 is a malicious package in web3-eth-account, published on 11 Sep 2026. 

### Official description

The package `web3-eth-account` typosquats the legitimate `eth-account` library and copies its metadata (ApeWorX/ethereum.org author addresses, README instructing `pip install eth-account`). On `import eth_account`, `__init__.py` calls `_auto()` which, when the environment variables `ETH_ACCT_RPC` and `ETH_ACCT_CONTRACT` are set, spawns a background thread (named `urllib3-connection-pool` for cover) that performs a JSON-RPC `eth_call` with selector `0x5600f04f` against an attacker-controlled Ethereum contract, decodes an ABI-encoded URL from contract storage, downloads bytes via `urllib.request.urlopen`, and hands them to `_apply_txn_payload` in `signing.py` / `transaction_utils.py`. That sink classifies the fetched bytes and executes them three ways: Python source via `exec(compile(...))`; Windows PE loaded in-memory via ctypes `CreateFileMappingW`/`MapViewOfFile`/`CreateProcessW`; otherwise written to `/tmp/_ethrt_<pid>.bin`, `chmod +x`, launched via `subprocess.Popen` in a new session with the file removed after launch. The C2 URL is resolved on-chain rather than embedded as a literal, defeating static URL extraction, and the dropper functions are disguised under transaction/signing names.

A clone of a legitimate package with import-time malicious code activating if specific env variables are set. Once activated, it queries the blockchain to retrieve the next stage URL stored in a smart contract. The payload from the URL is then downloaded and executed. The address of the smart contract is not included in the package.

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

Campaign: 2026-09-web3-eth-account

Reasons (based on the campaign):

 - typosquatting

 - clones-real-package

 - c2-in-blockchain

 - Downloads and executes a remote malicious script.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-16129?

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-2026-16129 is a malicious package: web3-eth-account (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-2026-16129/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-16129/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-16129

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-16129/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.