“XRP Ledger Patch Released After Significant Security Issue Found in XRPL Library.”

XRP Ledger Developer Token Exploit Fixed After Serious Security Vulnerability Discovered

A critical vulnerability that could have jeopardized the XRP Ledger network was quickly patched after an exploit was identified in a developer access token. The flaw, discovered by cybersecurity expert Charlie Eriksen from Aikido Security, could have allowed a threat actor to publish malicious code to the widely used XRP Ledger developer toolkit, potentially leading to a significant attack on the cryptocurrency ecosystem.

The exploit occurred when the attacker stole the access token of a developer working with the Node Package Manager (NPM), a platform where developers share and install code libraries for their projects. With the stolen credentials, the attacker was able to release compromised versions of the “xrpl.js” JavaScript library, which is a core tool for developers building applications on the XRP Ledger.

“The vulnerability was linked to recent versions of the xrpl.js library, which is used by thousands of applications. It had the potential to be catastrophic for the cryptocurrency space,” Eriksen said in a security update. “We are still investigating how the token was stolen, but the risk of large-scale attacks was significant.”

The flaw primarily affected versions of the library distributed through NPM. However, major XRP-related platforms like XRPScan and Xaman Wallet confirmed they were unaffected by the malicious code. Xaman Wallet, in a statement, emphasized its commitment to rigorous security standards and using only in-house developed solutions to safeguard user data.

“This recent NPM issue highlights the importance of knowing what you’re using. At Xaman, security comes first. We’ve always built our systems in-house, and trust is earned, not given,” stated Robert Kiuru, founder of Xaman Wallet.

According to Aikido Security’s analysis, the vulnerability could have led to attackers stealing users’ private keys, granting them access to crypto wallets and funds. The compromised versions of the library—v4.2.1 through v4.2.4 and v2.14.2—had been downloaded over 140,000 times per week, making the exploit a serious risk to the broader XRP ecosystem.

The flaw was discovered on April 21, 2025, when Aikido’s monitoring system flagged several suspicious updates to the library. The issue was quickly reported to the XRP Ledger Foundation, which acted rapidly to address the problem.

The Foundation issued a security patch, deprecating the affected versions and urging developers to immediately upgrade to the fixed version, 4.2.5. They also clarified that this vulnerability only impacted the “xrpl.js” library, and did not affect the core XRP Ledger protocol or its GitHub repository.

“Please note: This issue only affects the xrpl.js library for interacting with the XRP Ledger. It does not impact the XRP Ledger codebase itself. Developers should update to v4.2.5 immediately,” the XRP Ledger Foundation posted in a statement.

Despite the severity of the issue, the prompt response from both the XRP Ledger Foundation and the affected developers helped prevent major losses. XRP’s price rose by 8.5% within 24 hours of the vulnerability being fixed, aligning with the broader positive market movement.

This incident underscores the importance of security vigilance in the rapidly evolving cryptocurrency space. Developers and users are urged to take proactive steps in safeguarding their digital assets and systems by verifying the integrity of third-party libraries and updating software regularly.

The XRP Ledger Foundation’s swift action in addressing the exploit helped to restore confidence in the network’s security, demonstrating the importance of quick response times in preventing larger-scale attacks.

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