---
id: "MAL-2026-18218"
kind: "package"
aliases: ["MAL-2026-18218"]
title: "Malicious code in qowa (PyPI)"
severity: "critical"
cvss: null
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "package"
products: [{"name": "qowa", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 0.1.0", "ecosystem": "pypi"}]
ecosystems: ["pypi"]
tags: ["malicious", "package"]
not_affected_if: []
published_at: "2026-10-23T08:21:14+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-26T20:52:03+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-26T21:05:48+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "osv-malicious", "url": "https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-18218", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-26T20:52:03+00:00"}]
---

# Malicious code in qowa (PyPI)

## Affected

- pypi:qowa affected = 0.1.0 fixed ?

## Timeline

- 2026-10-26T20:52:03+00:00 osv-malicious https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-18218

## From the sources

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

## Source: amazon-inspector (650ce7eeda9c50d942912db7495f8108fcc3b8447ff9bae79a1bd1b105c1b0d5)
src/qowa/__init__.py contains calls to socket.gethostname() at lines 30, 52, and 247 together with hardcoded Telegram Bot API endpoints (api.telegram.org/bot<token>/...) at lines 117 and 135. The code reads installer host identity and transmits it to an attacker-controlled Telegram bot channel, a known pattern for host-reconnaissance exfiltration using Telegram as a C2/collector. The embedded bot token encodes the destination chat under the operator's control, so installing or importing this package leaks the installer's hostname (and any other collected context) off-host to a third party. The package has no documented purpose that would legitimize Telegram-bot delivery of hostname data.

## Source: kam193 (67fe6a2b86c60720a8e3cc1002c183bd751ec1896d3be13a44b5ce7d1623afbd)
The package provides a C2 server and agent with pre-filed credentials, disguised as a generic utility.


---

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


Campaign: 2026-10-qowa


Reasons (based on the campaign):


 - rat


 - spyware-like


 - target:android


 - The package contains code to execute remote commands (probably limited to a specific set) on the victim's machine.


 - uses-telegram-bot


 - files-exfiltration

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_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_