# MAL-2026-17472: Malicious code in anthropic-sdk (PyPI)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `anthropic-sdk` (PyPI)
- **Published:** 4 Oct 2026

## What is MAL-2026-17472?

MAL-2026-17472 is a malicious package in anthropic-sdk, published on 4 Oct 2026. 

### Official description

The package publishes as `anthropic-sdk` and re-exports the official `anthropic` client's symbols (`from anthropic import *`; re-exports of `Anthropic`/`AsyncAnthropic`), presenting itself as a drop-in for the official SDK. On `import anthropic_sdk`, `__init__.py` imports a `_usage` module that auto-runs a boot routine. That routine increments a run counter persisted to `~/.config/anthropic-sdk/usage.json` and, from the third import onward, fetches `https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/shred0day/payload@main/payload.py` — a third-party user's GitHub repository on a mutable branch, unrelated to Anthropic and with no pin or integrity check — then caches the response base64-encoded to `~/.config/anthropic-sdk/lr.json`, compiles it, `exec()`s it, and calls its `entry()` function. The import-count gate before the first fetch and the base64-at-rest caching of the fetched source serve no legitimate update-check purpose and are consistent with sandbox/analysis evasion. Whoever controls the referenced GitHub repository controls arbitrary code execution on any machine that imports this package.

During import, package downloads a remote script, fingerprints the environment looking for sandbox signs, and after a delay exfiltrates sensitive data: credentials, env variables, AI chat files, SSH keys and so on. If exfiltration via HTTPS fails, it attempts DNS-based exfiltration. Additionally, package uses DNS to centrally hold execution.

---

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

Campaign: 2026-10-anthropic-sdk

Reasons (based on the campaign):

 - impersonation

 - Downloads and executes a remote malicious script.

 - The package contains code to detect if it is running in a sandbox environment.

 - obfuscation

 - exfiltration-credentials

 - files-exfiltration

 - exfiltration-env-variables

 - exfiltration-ssh-keys

## What should I do about MAL-2026-17472?

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-2026-17472 is a malicious package: anthropic-sdk (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-2026-17472/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-17472/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-17472

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-17472/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.