{"id":"MAL-2026-18879","summary":"Malicious code in @ranstech/baileys (npm)","details":"@ranstech/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 the channel ID(s) 120363371199176376@newsletter, 120363387182851100@newsletter, 120363421367985094@newsletter (stored as base64 strings), using the victim's authenticated session and without telling them. Same behaviour as the PhantomSub family (MAL-2026-17342).","modified":"2026-11-09T23:15:26.129011025Z","published":"2026-10-27T00:00:00Z","database_specific":{"iocs":{"domains":[],"files":[{"digests":{"sha256":"401400bbe1e07ff096223f1b8ed4619c46c2a8a7e3383a6fffd1007d6e0a6d22"},"paths":["lib/Socket/newsletter.js"]}],"ips":[],"urls":[]}},"references":[{"type":"PACKAGE","url":"https://www.npmjs.com/package/@ranstech/baileys"},{"type":"WEB","url":"https://www.ox.security/blog/phantomsub-malicious-npm-campaign-secretly-adds-users-to-whatsapp-spam-channels/"}],"affected":[{"package":{"name":"@ranstech/baileys","ecosystem":"npm","purl":"pkg:npm/%40ranstech/baileys"},"versions":["6.1.0"],"database_specific":{"cwes":[{"description":"The product contains code that appears to be malicious in nature.","name":"Embedded Malicious Code","cweId":"CWE-506"}],"source":"https://github.com/ossf/malicious-packages/blob/main/osv/malicious/npm/@ranstech/baileys/MAL-2026-18879.json"}}],"schema_version":"1.9.2","credits":[{"name":"CyberXYZ","contact":["https://cyberxyz.io"],"type":"FINDER"}]}