MAL-2026-17443

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Import Source

https://github.com/ossf/malicious-packages/blob/main/osv/malicious/npm/@zanta/baileys/MAL-2026-17443.json

JSON Data

https://api.osv.dev/v1/vulns/MAL-2026-17443

Aliases

GHSA-2rh8-cvqq-44jf

Published

2026-10-12T16:31:44Z

Modified

2026-10-12T17:45:05Z

Summary

Malicious code in @zanta/baileys (npm)

Details

This package is a fork of the Baileys WhatsApp Web library (npm) and belongs to the "PhantomSub" family described by OX Security in September 2026: the publisher injected code that, without the installer asking, uses the installer's own authenticated WhatsApp session to subscribe that account to WhatsApp Channels (newsletters) the publisher chose, by sending the WhatsApp w:mex FOLLOW query (query_id 7871414976211147) for each target channel JID.

package/lib/Socket/socket.js line 23 declares the plain-literal AUTO_FOLLOW_CHANNEL_JID = "120363406265537739@newsletter"; lines 769-794, in the login-success (CB:success) handler, wait 3 seconds after the connection opens and send a FOLLOW query (xwa2_newsletter_join_v2) for it (cited line 774: QueryIds.FOLLOW,), suppressing "already subscribed" errors. There is no opt-out. The package README describes the fork as one from which "annoying developer auto-follow newsletter scripts have been completely stripped", which the shipped code contradicts.

Line numbers refer to version 1.0.1; the same code is present in every published version listed under affected.

Static review of the published tarball(s) found no code that sends WhatsApp credentials or session keys off-host, no install-time payload (the only install hook is Baileys' stock Node.js version check in engine-requirements.js), and no persistence; the payload runs when an application creates a WhatsApp socket with the library. The harm is the covert use of the victim's account to inflate the publisher's channel subscribers.

SHA-256 of the published npm tarball(s): 1.0.0: c88f9688c56742da9b149da3c41df88da47fe95073ad581a716fc4c11ee199f3; 1.0.1: dc0eb5fcdfa84de88afe9eaf4bea9d6360fa984797599a1b7d7737df1d341c2a.

-= Per source details. Do not edit below this line.=-

Source: ghsa-malware (bc0bd4ce512e53d203bfa114455063c013c500ed65e2850eb973633063280753)

Any computer that has this package installed or running should be considered fully compromised. All secrets and keys stored on that computer should be rotated immediately from a different computer. The package should be removed, but as full control of the computer may have been given to an outside entity, there is no guarantee that removing the package will remove all malicious software resulting from installing it.

Database specific

{
    "iocs":  {
        "files":  [
            {
                "digests":  {
                    "sha256":  "58d5c5ec07a3894715c0a79bbd2ac37c3025359f99c7ed57073f27a3d9507873"
                },
                "note":  "File containing the injected WhatsApp Channel follow code.",
                "paths":  [
                    "package/lib/Socket/socket.js"
                ],
                "source":  "PACKAGE_ARCHIVE"
            }
        ]
    },
    "malicious-packages-origins":  [
        {
            "id":  "GHSA-2rh8-cvqq-44jf",
            "import_time":  "2026-10-12T17:27:28.116216858Z",
            "modified_time":  "2026-10-12T16:31:44Z",
            "ranges":  [
                {
                    "events":  [
                        {
                            "introduced":  "0"
                        }
                    ],
                    "type":  "SEMVER"
                }
            ],
            "sha256":  "bc0bd4ce512e53d203bfa114455063c013c500ed65e2850eb973633063280753",
            "source":  "ghsa-malware"
        }
    ]
}

References

Credits

- Rising Sun Solutions LLC - FINDER
- - https://github.com/jaym2026

Affected packages

npm / @zanta/baileys

Package

Name: @zanta/baileys; View open source insights on deps.dev
Purl: pkg:npm/%40zanta/baileys

Affected ranges

Type: SEMVER
Events: Introduced

0 Unknown introduced version / All previous versions are affected

Affected versions

1.*

1.0.0

1.0.1

Database specific

cwes

[
    {
        "cweId":  "CWE-506",
        "description":  "The product contains code that appears to be malicious in nature.",
        "name":  "Embedded Malicious Code"
    }
]

source

"https://github.com/ossf/malicious-packages/blob/main/osv/malicious/npm/@zanta/baileys/MAL-2026-17443.json"