---
id: "MAL-2026-16268"
kind: "package"
aliases: ["MAL-2026-16268"]
title: "Malicious code in index-forum (PyPI)"
severity: "critical"
cvss: null
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "package"
products: [{"name": "index-forum", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 2.5.4", "ecosystem": "pypi"}]
ecosystems: ["pypi"]
tags: ["malicious", "package"]
not_affected_if: []
published_at: "2026-09-17T22:00:19+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-26T20:51:58+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-26T21:10:31+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "osv-malicious", "url": "https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-16268", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-26T20:51:58+00:00"}]
---

# Malicious code in index-forum (PyPI)

## Affected

- pypi:index-forum affected = 2.5.4 fixed ?

## Timeline

- 2026-10-26T20:51:58+00:00 osv-malicious https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-16268

## From the sources

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_-= Per source details. Do not edit below this line.=-_

## Source: amazon-inspector (4b837b7b56f9b239c9d0c86bd2e7d432d3223e496a9820c54b0a14fd3c542b22)
The package was found to contain malicious code or consuming dependency that contains malicious code

## Source: kam193 (7561fd94425cdde34f5f9f3d20482a0da8680414d0f38e1e00fea419ce23cf66)
The package hides code to exfiltrate specific files from the user's machine. The used file paths suggest it was intended to be used in a CTF-like environment.


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


Campaign: 2026-09-pyjstat-smooth


Reasons (based on the campaign):


 - files-exfiltration


 - obfuscation


 - targetted-attack


 - clones-real-package

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