# MAL-2026-17847: Malicious code in npp-ml (PyPI)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `npp-ml` (PyPI)
- **Published:** 12 Oct 2026

## What is MAL-2026-17847?

MAL-2026-17847 is a malicious package in npp-ml, published on 12 Oct 2026. 

### Official description

The package's setup.py declares `scripts=['bin/python']`, which causes pip to copy the file literally named `python` into the installer's script directory (e.g. a virtualenv `bin/`, `/usr/local/bin/`, or `Scripts\` on Windows). The shipped `bin/python` file is not a Python script — it begins with ZIP magic `PK\x03\x04` and contains a bundled Windows Python 3.10 distribution (`python310.dll`, `pythonw.exe`, `_ssl.pyd`, `libssl-1_1.dll`, `python310.zip`). After install, invoking `python` from the affected directory resolves to this non-executable archive rather than a real interpreter, breaking the `python` command for anything that resolves it from that directory first. The archive contents are a stock Windows Python runtime and do not contain outbound network code, credential access, or persistence mechanisms; the harm is local breakage of the installer's interpreter command, not exfiltration or remote code execution.

The package claims to provide a Notepad++ distribution, but in fact delivers ADExplorer, an Active Directory analysis tool.

---

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

Campaign: 2026-10-npp-ml

Reasons (based on the campaign):

 - other

 - impersonation

## What should I do about MAL-2026-17847?

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-2026-17847 is a malicious package: npp-ml (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-2026-17847/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-17847/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-17847

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-17847/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.