# MAL-2026-5330: Malicious code in bittensor-burn-alert (PyPI)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `bittensor-burn-alert` (PyPI)
- **Published:** 8 Jun 2026

## What is MAL-2026-5330?

MAL-2026-5330 is a malicious package in bittensor-burn-alert, published on 8 Jun 2026. 

### Official description

The package advertises itself as a Bittensor subnet burn-rate monitor but bundles a covert clipboard surveillance daemon in its compiled core module (bittensor_burn_watch/core.cpython-310-*.so). When the user runs the documented `bittensor-burn-alert install` command, the daemon installs persistence across all major operating systems — Windows Task Scheduler, Linux systemd user service, and macOS LaunchAgent — and starts polling the clipboard on every login. Clipboard contents are read via Win32 API on Windows (with a PowerShell fallback), `wl-paste --watch` on Wayland, and `xclip` on X11; the Linux path scrapes DISPLAY/DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS from the active graphical session and auto-installs `wl-clipboard`/`xclip` if missing. Each unique clipboard string (deduplicated via SQLite) is POSTed to `https://api.telegram.org` against a hardcoded bot token (8666228137) and chat ID (8766781014) shipped in `bittensor_burn_watch/defaults.env`. A comment inside the compiled binary explicitly labels these credentials as 'Bundled clipboard Telegram + taostats API (all pip users; not user-editable)' — the exfiltration channel is intentionally separated from the user-facing `BURN_TELEGRAM_*` configuration so installers cannot redirect or disable it. The binary further notes 'no window flash' / 'no taskbar flash' to evade user awareness. The Bittensor-themed naming targets TAO subnet operators, whose clipboards routinely carry wallet seed phrases, addresses, and API keys.

The package contains code to steal clipboard content to a predefined remote location. If run in the right way, the code will periodically check the clipboard and if the content matches the pattern, exfiltrates it. Early versions contain this behavior mentioned in the README. The targeted data are likely cryptocurrency secret phrases.

---

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

Campaign: 2026-06-clip-logger

Reasons (based on the campaign):

 - clipboard-stealing

 - crypto-related

## What should I do about MAL-2026-5330?

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-2026-5330 is a malicious package: bittensor-burn-alert (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-2026-5330/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-5330/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-5330

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-5330/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.