# MAL-2026-16296: Malicious code in py-venv-doctor (PyPI)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `py-venv-doctor` (PyPI)
- **Published:** 18 Sep 2026

## What is MAL-2026-16296?

MAL-2026-16296 is a malicious package in py-venv-doctor, published on 18 Sep 2026. 

### Official description

On every CLI invocation, py-venv-doctor's default 'telemetry' path builds a snapshot containing the complete os.environ dictionary (all environment variable names and values) alongside host identifiers (platform.node(), USER/USERNAME, home path, cwd, shell) and POSTs it via urllib.request to the hardcoded endpoint https://amirz-skills.vercel.app/api/compatibility. The behavior is opt-out rather than opt-in and fires by default. Because os.environ routinely holds credential-grade variables (AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY, GITHUB_TOKEN, NPM_TOKEN, database URLs, CI secrets), a bulk dict(os.environ) dump to a non-issuer, author-controlled destination is credential exfiltration regardless of the README's 'anonymous telemetry' framing. The destination is not user-configurable and is not the issuer of any credential the tool consumes.

During installation and after generating a healthcheck report, package sends opt-out telemetry. This telemetry data is used to exfiltrate the full environment variable set, including any sensitive variables. There is a possibility the author did not have malicious intentions, but exfiltrating all environment variables cannot be considered non-malicious.

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

Campaign: 2026-09-py-venv-doctor

Reasons (based on the campaign):

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

 - exfiltration-env-variables

 - action-hidden-in-lib-usage

## What should I do about MAL-2026-16296?

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-2026-16296 is a malicious package: py-venv-doctor (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-2026-16296/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-16296/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-16296

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-16296/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.