MAL-2026-17802 Malicious code in xrp-ledger-utils (RubyGems)

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.

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.