# MAL-2026-6734: Malicious code in horde-python-client (PyPI)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `horde-python-client` (PyPI)
- **Published:** 2 Jul 2026

## What is MAL-2026-6734?

MAL-2026-6734 is a malicious package in horde-python-client, published on 2 Jul 2026. 

### Official description

horde-python-client 99999.0.0 is a dependency-confusion lure. On `import horde_python_client`, a daemon thread unconditionally POSTs a JSON payload containing the host's hostname, the USER/USERNAME environment variable, and the current working directory to http://109.123.247.172/pypi over plain HTTP. The destination is a bare IP unrelated to any legitimate package publisher. The package ships with placeholder metadata (description "Internal package", author "Security Research") and an absurdly high version number (99999.0.0) — the canonical shape for overriding a target organization's private package of the same name in resolver precedence. Installer harm: any developer or build system that resolves this package and imports it leaks host identifiers to the attacker, confirming a successful dependency-confusion hit and enabling follow-on targeting.

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

---

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-2026-6734?

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-2026-6734 is a malicious package: horde-python-client (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-2026-6734/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-6734/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-6734

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-6734/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.