MAL-2026-17799
Malicious code in wallet-balance-scanner (RubyGems)
Published Oct 11, 2026 · corrected/updated Oct 13, 2026 · evidence confidence medium
--- _-= Per source details. Do not edit below this line.=-_ ## Source: amazon-inspector (1506ac4eca059796d3f029e96fcfcafc24ffc6ad0b454ae831c06edef4064055) The gem declares a native extension at ext/wallet_balance_scanner/extconf.rb but ships no C/C++/Rust sources; the extconf.rb is itself the payload rather than a build script, and runs automatically during . The script decodes a base64 blob and launches it inside a detached, delayed forked process which opens a TCPSocket to the hardcoded bare-IP C2 45.138.12.177:8089 and pipes /bin/sh to it, handing a shell on the installer's host to the operator of that endpoint. Execution is gated by developer-workstation heuristics: it checks for ~/.ssh, ~/.gitconfig, ~/.npmrc, ~/.gem/credentials and ~/.bundle, requires host uptime over 1800 seconds, and bails out on CI, ephemeral hostnames, generated usernames, and known analysis/sandbox path prefixes, so the backdoor fires only on real developer machines. The lib/wallet_balance_scanner.rb entry and README (which refers to an unrelated library) are stubs with no relation to the declared wallet-scanning purpose, consistent with a cover-story gem whose only functional component is the install-time reverse shell. ## Source: ossf-package-analysis (c307a3154873fc791254b5f8fd91803e64e5b49c8ec114a2eadcee895614ab42) The OpenSSF Package Analysis project identified 'wallet-balance-scanner' @ 0.9.1 (rubygems) as malicious. It is considered malicious because: - The package executes one or more commands associated with malicious behavior.
Grounded briefings
Catalog interpretations for three audiences. Each brief cites ingested metadata and the original advisories below. They are not independent research and they do not invent exploit steps.
Executive
MAL-2026-17799 is a unknown public vulnerability record for this product. It is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited catalog. Check the linked vendor or CERT advisories for patch status. This summary is a catalog interpretation of the ingested metadata and cites the original advisories below.
System administrator
Identify whether this product is in your estate, then compare installed versions with the affected ranges. Affected packages or ranges on record: wallet-balance-scanner (0.9.1). Check the linked vendor or CERT advisories for patch status. Prefer the vendor or distribution advisory linked in Sources before changing production systems. This is a catalog interpretation, not a runbook.
Security analyst
Signals on file: no CVSS/EPSS yet. It is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited catalog. Sources contributing to this record: osv. Public exploit references, when present, are outbound links only and are not proof of active exploitation. This is a catalog interpretation of stored metadata.
Exploitation and remediation
Exploitation evidence
Not listed as known exploited in CISA KEV. Not in the CISA KEV catalog.
Patch and remediation
No required-action text is stored yet. Use the vendor or CERT links in Sources for patch availability.
Safe detection guidance
Compare installed versions with the affected ranges below and verify the advisory from the original publisher. This site stores metadata and outbound links only; it does not ship exploit code or proof-of-concept payloads.
Code
The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.
Timeline
Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.
Oct 11, 2026 · OSV.dev
Detected
--- _-= Per source details. Do not edit below this line.=-_ ## Source: amazon-inspector (1506ac4eca059796d3f029e96fcfcafc24ffc6ad0b454ae831c06edef4064055) The gem declares a native extension at ext/wallet_balance_scanner/extconf.rb but ships no C/C++/Rust sources; the extconf.rb is itself the payload rather than a build script, and runs automatically during . The script decodes a base64 blob and l
Oct 13, 2026 · OSV.dev
Updated
--- _-= Per source details. Do not edit below this line.=-_ ## Source: amazon-inspector (1506ac4eca059796d3f029e96fcfcafc24ffc6ad0b454ae831c06edef4064055) The gem declares a native extension at ext/wallet_balance_scanner/extconf.rb but ships no C/C++/Rust sources; the extconf.rb is itself the payload rather than a build script, and runs automatically during . The script decodes a base64 blob and l
Affected
- RubyGems wallet-balance-scanner0.9.1