# MAL-2026-17462: Malicious code in echogen (PyPI)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `echogen` (PyPI)
- **Published:** 3 Oct 2026

## What is MAL-2026-17462?

MAL-2026-17462 is a malicious package in echogen, published on 3 Oct 2026. 

### Official description

On every `import echogen`, __init__.py invokes a `_canary()` function that performs an HTTP GET to a canarytokens.com tracking URL (https://canarytokens.com/feedback/traffic/tags/u7eeajm7pteo1ns0mzaijswht/payments.js) with a JSON query parameter containing host identifiers: Python version, container/k8s/CI environment flags (names only, not values), the parent process name read from /proc/<ppid>/comm, and a 6-segment prefix of the install path (which typically contains the OS username). The behavior is disclosed in the README and can be disabled via ECHOGEN_NO_CANARY=1. No credentials, environment variable values, file contents, or other sensitive data are collected. The destination is a third-party canary-token tracking service rather than a product-telemetry endpoint; because canary tokens are designed to alert an operator when accessed, each import of this library generates such an alert and the mild host identifiers above are disclosed to whoever controls that token. Import-time outbound network also breaks offline and air-gapped installs.

Installing the package or importing the module exfiltrates basic information about the host, and the package has no other purpose.

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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: GENERIC-standard-pypi-install-pentest

Reasons (based on the campaign):

 - The package contains code to exfiltrate basic data from the system, like IP or username. It has a limited risk.

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

## What should I do about MAL-2026-17462?

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-2026-17462 is a malicious package: echogen (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-2026-17462/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-17462/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-17462

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-17462/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.