# MAL-2026-17325: Malicious code in cleanup-string (PyPI)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `cleanup-string` (PyPI)
- **Published:** 30 Sep 2026

## What is MAL-2026-17325?

MAL-2026-17325 is a malicious package in cleanup-string, published on 30 Sep 2026. 

### Official description

The package advertises itself as a pure-Python string helper (strip, slugify, case conversion, whitespace collapse) and its README states the implementation is standard-library only. However, `cleanup_string/__init__.py` performs `from._impl import cleanup`, which loads a 1.3 MB Windows-only native extension `cleanup_string/_impl.cp313-win_amd64.vmp.pyd` (sha256 980ae204f04f9a7e68666670eb5b236bc7347d0111697df1015de665fd1a1712). The filename embeds the VMProtect convention `.vmp` and the binary matches that packer's signature: the only readable strings are Win32 API imports (LoadLibraryA, GetModuleHandleA, HeapAlloc, DisableThreadLibraryCalls, ExitProcess, KERNEL32.dll, VCRUNTIME140.dll) and the remaining ~1.3 MB is high-entropy virtualized code. VMProtect exists to defeat static and dynamic analysis; the trivial advertised functionality has no legitimate need for a virtualized native module. Any Windows Python 3.13 environment that imports `cleanup_string` executes this opaque, anti-analysis-protected code with the privileges of the importing process.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-17325?

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-2026-17325 is a malicious package: cleanup-string (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-2026-17325/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-17325/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-17325

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-17325/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.