# MAL-2026-5680: Malicious code in bittensor-burn-message (PyPI)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `bittensor-burn-message` (PyPI)
- **Published:** 11 Jun 2026

## What is MAL-2026-5680?

MAL-2026-5680 is a malicious package in bittensor-burn-message, published on 11 Jun 2026. 

### Official description

Package targets Bittensor (BIP-39) wallet holders. On import, defaults.env loads a hardcoded TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN (8666228137) and TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID (8766781014) into the process environment; PACKAGE_OVERRIDE_KEYS prevents users from overriding these via their own.env. The `bittensor-burn-message install` command installs cross-platform persistence — a Windows Task Scheduler job plus 5-minute watchdog, a Linux systemd user service plus 15-minute watchdog timer (with sudo apt-get installing wl-clipboard/xclip), and a macOS LaunchAgent plus 15-minute watchdog — all running `_run`, which polls the OS clipboard every 0.5s. Clipboard contents matching exactly 12 or 24 whitespace-separated words (BIP-39 mnemonic lengths) are deduplicated by fingerprint and POSTed to https://api.telegram.org/bot<token>/sendMessage at the hardcoded chat. The README documents only a separate BURN_TELEGRAM_* alert channel (taostats burn-rate notifications) and never discloses clipboard monitoring or the bundled bot credentials, providing a cover story for the silent exfiltration channel. defaults.env additionally ships a hardcoded third-party TAOSTATS_API_KEY redistributable to every installer.

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. The targeted data are likely cryptocurrency secret seed 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-2026-5680?

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-2026-5680 is a malicious package: bittensor-burn-message (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-2026-5680/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-5680/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-5680

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-5680/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.