# MAL-2026-17610: Malicious code in solaan-ruby (RubyGems)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `solaan-ruby` (RubyGems)
- **Published:** 5 Oct 2026

## What is MAL-2026-17610?

MAL-2026-17610 is a malicious package in solaan-ruby, published on 5 Oct 2026. 

### Official description

RubyGems runs this gem's native extension script `ext/solaan-ruby/extconf.rb` during `gem install`. The script exits without action on CI runners and sandboxes, based on CI environment variables, the hostname, the username and the working directory. It continues if the system uptime is over 30 minutes and the home directory holds `.ssh`, `.gitconfig`, `.npmrc`, `.gem/credentials` or `.bundle`. It then decodes a Base64 Ruby payload and forks twice into a detached process. After 20 to 40 minutes the payload downloads `http://45.138.12.177:8092/wgkit.tar.gz` to `/tmp/.w1.tgz` with `curl`, extracts it to `/tmp/.w1/`, runs `wg_install.sh` with `bash` and deletes both. The payload stores the URL XOR-encoded with the key `usv\x9a`. The Ruby code in `lib/` is a decoy. The RubyGems account `reqthrottle_3474` published this gem and 41 others with the same loader on 2026-10-05.

The gem's native-extension build script (extconf.rb) carries a base64-encoded Ruby payload that executes at `gem install` time via the standard mkmf build hook. The accompanying C source is a 2-line empty stub, so building a native extension is not the real purpose of the file — the gem exists to run the embedded payload. The payload XOR-reconstructs a URL pointing at the hardcoded bare-IP endpoint http://45.138.12.177:8092/wgkit.tar.gz, curls the tarball to /tmp/.w1.tgz with no integrity check, extracts it to /tmp/.w1, and runs `bash /tmp/.w1/wg_install.sh`, giving the operator of that IP arbitrary code execution on the installer's host. Execution is gated by evasion checks that abort on CI environments, hostnames matching uvm/firecracker/sandbox/vagrant, usernames matching scanner patterns, working directories under /tmp or /opt/rubygems, and `/proc/uptime` under 1800 seconds, and only proceeds when developer artifacts are present on disk (~/.ssh, ~/.gitconfig, ~/.gem/credentials, ~/.bundle). The dropper additionally forks a detached child and sleeps a randomized 20–40 minutes before the fetch to evade install-time observation. The combination of obfuscated remote URL, bare-IP HTTP source, pipe-to-bash execution, sandbox evasion, and developer-workstation targeting is an install-time remote code execution attack against developer machines that install the gem.

The OpenSSF Package Analysis project identified 'solaan-ruby' @ 1.0.0 (rubygems) as malicious.

It is considered malicious because:

- The package executes one or more commands associated with malicious behavior.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-17610?

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-2026-17610 is a malicious package: solaan-ruby (RubyGems). 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-2026-17610/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-17610/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-17610

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-17610/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.