MAL-2026-18980

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Import Source
https://github.com/ossf/malicious-packages/blob/main/osv/malicious/npm/hunter-baileys/MAL-2026-18980.json
JSON Data
https://api.osv.dev/v1/vulns/MAL-2026-18980
Published
2026-10-27T00:00:00Z
Modified
2026-11-09T23:15:31Z
Summary
Malicious code in hunter-baileys (npm)
Details

hunter-baileys is a fork of the Baileys WhatsApp Web library that silently subscribes the installer's own WhatsApp account to WhatsApp Channels chosen by the publisher. When the socket connects, code in lib/Socket/newsletter.js sends the WhatsApp w:mex FOLLOW query for a list downloaded at runtime from https://files.giftedtech.co.ke/file/chJids.json (the URL itself stored as base64 strings), using the victim's authenticated session and without telling them. Same behaviour as the PhantomSub family (MAL-2026-17342).

Database specific 
{
    "iocs": {
        "domains": [
            "files.giftedtech.co.ke"
        ],
        "files": [
            {
                "digests": {
                    "sha256": "1508b7661ece1baa15c8b20280de4ae8b49ccaa4a5fd42d341bd700e97856cf8"
                },
                "paths": [
                    "lib/Socket/newsletter.js"
                ]
            }
        ],
        "ips": [],
        "urls": [
            "https://files.giftedtech.co.ke/file/chJids.json"
        ]
    }
}
References
Credits

Affected packages

npm / hunter-baileys

Package

Name
hunter-baileys
View open source insights on deps.dev
Purl
pkg:npm/hunter-baileys

Affected ranges

Affected versions

2.*
2.1.1

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/hunter-baileys/MAL-2026-18980.json"