MAL-2026-53 Malicious code in gztensor-cli (PyPI)

Malicious package Published
Package
gztensor-cli
Registry
PyPI

What is MAL-2026-53?

MAL-2026-53 is a malicious package in gztensor-cli, published on 5 Jan 2026.

Official description

Package clones a legitimate library and adds a hidden code that downloads a malicious script. The script then downloads an archive with malicious executable in the version appropriate to the system architecture, and ensures persistency by adding automatically started service entries. The remote code is a Go-based inforstealer and backdoor previously attributed to Nordkorean cybercrime activities.

The malicious code was introduced in version 0.1.1. Besides an infostealer, the package modifies the cloned Bittensor library to collect keys.


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

Campaign: 2026-01-gztensor-cli

Reasons (based on the campaign):

  • crypto-related

  • action-hidden-in-lib-usage

  • Downloads and executes a remote executable.

  • clones-real-package

  • peristence-autorun

  • typosquatting

  • obfuscation

  • backdoor

  • infostealer

What should I do about MAL-2026-53?

Remove the package from your dependencies and lockfiles, then rotate any secrets on machines where it was installed.

Sources

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