# MAL-2026-5868: Malicious code in datacamp-light (PyPI)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `datacamp-light` (PyPI)
- **Published:** 16 Jun 2026

## What is MAL-2026-5868?

MAL-2026-5868 is a malicious package in datacamp-light, published on 16 Jun 2026. 

### Official description

datacamp-light 99.0.0 impersonates DataCamp's internal package (name='datacamp-light', author='DataCamp', url='https://github.com/datacamp/datacamp-light', anomalous version 99.0.0 — the canonical dependency-confusion bait shape). setup.py defines an exfiltrate() function and invokes it unconditionally at top level, so it fires during `pip install`. The function collects hostname, current working directory, platform, Python version, and USER/USERNAME environment variables, JSON-encodes them, and POSTs them via urllib.request.urlopen to https://z39gspa3.pingback.sh/c. Any installer whose resolver picks up this public artifact (the intent of the 99.0.0 version pin) leaks host and user identifiers to the pingback domain. Even though the package self-labels as a 'PoC,' the published artifact actively phones home from any machine that installs it.

Installing the package or importing the module exfiltrates basic information about the host, and the package has no other purpose.

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Category: PROBABLY_PENTEST - Packages looking like typical pentest packages, but also anything that looks like testing, exploring pre-prepared kits, research & co, with clearly low-harm possibilities.

Campaign: GENERIC-standard-pypi-install-pentest

Reasons (based on the campaign):

 - The package contains code to exfiltrate basic data from the system, like IP or username. It has a limited risk.

 - The package overrides the install command in setup.py to execute malicious code during installation.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-5868?

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-2026-5868 is a malicious package: datacamp-light (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-2026-5868/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-5868/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-5868

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-5868/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.