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Malicious package

@fadelsm/baileysnpm

Advisory published Updated

@fadelsm/baileys is a confirmed malicious npm package (MAL-2026-18830) that executes malicious code on install (malicious versions 7.0.1, 7.0.2, 7.0.3…). Do not install it — remove it immediately and rotate any exposed credentials.

Malicious code in @fadelsm/baileys (npm)

MAL-2026-18830
Immediate action
Remove the package, then rotate any secrets the build/runtime could reach.
npm uninstall @fadelsm/baileys

What this malware does

@fadelsm/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) 120363400362472743@newsletter, 120363406524087186@newsletter, 120363407144637058@newsletter, 120363408367338249@newsletter, 120363409508273158@newsletter, 12036340982021544@newsletter and 4 more (stored as character-code arrays), using the victim's authenticated session and without telling them. Same behaviour as the PhantomSub family (MAL-2026-17342).

Malicious versions

9 flagged
7.0.17.0.27.0.37.0.47.0.57.0.67.0.77.0.87.0.9

Detection & response playbook

Malicious package
  1. Find it

    Search your lockfiles and build artifacts for @fadelsm/baileys (9 malicious versions).

  2. If you installed it — respond

    Remove @fadelsm/baileys from your project and lockfile, then assume any secrets accessible to the build or runtime were exposed: rotate API keys, tokens, and credentials, and audit for unexpected outbound activity or persistence.

  3. Did it already run?

    If @fadelsm/baileys was installed, its post-install payload may already have run. Removing the package does not undo that — check outbound connections and credential use from the install window onward.

Frequently asked questions

No. @fadelsm/baileys on npm has been identified as a malicious package (versions 7.0.1, 7.0.2, 7.0.3, 7.0.4, 7.0.5, 7.0.6, 7.0.7, 7.0.8, and 1 more flagged). It should be removed immediately — do not install or keep it in your dependency tree.

References

Credits

  • CyberXYZ · finder

Detect & block this

O3 blocks @fadelsm/baileys-class packages before install and in CI — and if it already ran, its runtime egress monitoring catches the malicious outbound activity and severs the channel.

Explore

@fadelsm/baileys (npm) malicious package — MAL-2026-18830 | O3 Security