Malicious code in xrp-ledger-utils (RubyGems)

{
  "id": "eac9ca9da06a552d4c3eff78a656249621522c0f0c5d8ca14bd2b37562654047",
  "url": "https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-17802",
  "method": "structured",
  "payload": {
    "kind": "advisory",
    "title": "Malicious code in xrp-ledger-utils (RubyGems)",
    "summary": "--- _-= Per source details. Do not edit below this line.=-_ ## Source: amazon-inspector (1d8cf595b60954811e6adfd0c4a241c696d326b42baf1ed2e7b163e720db44c4) The gem's native extension builder ext/extconf.rb decodes a base64-embedded Ruby payload and eval()s it inside a double-forked, detached child after a randomized 20-40 minute sleep. The payload opens a TCP connection to the hardcoded bare-IP C2 at 45.138.12.177:8089, pipes the socket to /bin/sh, and reconnects in a loop, providing an interactive remote shell on the installer's host. Execution is gated by anti-analysis checks that skip CI runners, sandboxed/ephemeral hosts, synthetic usernames, and fresh VMs, and only fires when developer-workstation indicators are present (~/.ssh, ~/.gitconfig, ~/.npmrc, ~/.gem/credentials, ~/.bundle). The shipped library is an inert stub (build_id='ok', healthy?=true), the README is for an unrelated project ('bitcoin-rpc-lite'), and the Makefile target is bitcoin_rpc_lite_native, so the package has no legitimate advertised functionality; the install-time dropper is its sole purpose. ## Source: ossf-package-analysis (0710fa7f9a5c9d736a6305232a414769cc1e5896653a55bb9e3a02f7b7a0c026) The OpenSSF Package Analysis project identified 'xrp-ledger-utils' @ 0.9.1 (rubygems) as malicious. It is considered malicious because: - The package executes one or more commands associated with malicious behavior.",
    "evidence": "osv:MAL-2026-17802",
    "products": [
      {
        "name": {
          "value": "xrp-ledger-utils",
          "evidence": "/affected/0/package/name"
        },
        "prerequisites": [],
        "fixed_versions": [],
        "affected_versions": [
          {
            "value": "0.9.1",
            "evidence": "/affected/0/versions"
          }
        ]
      }
    ],
    "severity": "unknown",
    "structured": {
      "id": "MAL-2026-17802",
      "aliases": [
        "MAL-2026-17802"
      ],
      "affected": [
        {
          "package": {
            "name": "xrp-ledger-utils",
            "purl": "pkg:gem/xrp-ledger-utils",
            "ecosystem": "RubyGems"
          },
          "versions": [
            "0.9.1"
          ],
          "database_specific": {
            "cwes": [
              {
                "name": "Embedded Malicious Code",
                "cweId": "CWE-506",
                "description": "The product contains code that appears to be malicious in nature."
              }
            ],
            "source": "https://github.com/ossf/malicious-packages/blob/main/osv/malicious/rubygems/xrp-ledger-utils/MAL-2026-17802.json",
            "indicators": {
              "evidence_files": [
                {
                  "path": "ext/xrp_ledger_utils/extconf.rb",
                  "tlsh": "9751775acf8359e55aa1c0c045798012faa3ab0a50646875f3ee0868ff59b26c0f12fe",
                  "sha256": "10218e975f54a4f11fe3954e1b584a5f05054003bf5773c3c2b8cceaa74ba763"
                },
                {
                  "path": "metadata.yaml",
                  "tlsh": "1a11f380a5c3fc3ff21ad1ee58442207f3b2e308fe5538148eeb919b93941ad6707161",
                  "sha256": "8cced2a2df8fab52c1e109163a9bfc379e32b69e00bbb1e4024e5abdf720eaa6"
                }
              ]
            }
          }
        }
      ],
      "modified": "2026-10-13T23:30:05.046855932Z",
      "provider": "osv",
      "references": [
        "https://rubygems.org/gems/xrp-ledger-utils/versions/0.9.1"
      ],
      "provider_metadata": {
        "malicious-packages-origins": [
          {
            "id": "IN-MAL-2026-021370",
            "sha256": "1d8cf595b60954811e6adfd0c4a241c696d326b42baf1ed2e7b163e720db44c4",
            "source": "amazon-inspector",
            "versions": [
              "0.9.1"
            ],
            "import_time": "2026-10-11T14:17:59.973303526Z",
            "modified_time": "2026-10-11T13:49:05Z"
          },
          {
            "sha256": "0710fa7f9a5c9d736a6305232a414769cc1e5896653a55bb9e3a02f7b7a0c026",
            "source": "ossf-package-analysis",
            "versions": [
              "0.9.1"
            ],
            "import_time": "2026-10-13T23:14:39.288674783Z",
            "modified_time": "2026-10-11T06:55:27Z"
          }
        ]
      }
    },
    "related_cves": [],
    "security_relevant": true,
    "severity_evidence": null
  },
  "source_id": "core-osv",
  "document_id": 313742,
  "published_at": "2026-10-11T06:55:27+00:00"
}