Which versions of kevinx-baileys are malicious?

The following npm versions of kevinx-baileys are flagged malicious: 1.2.0, 1.2.1, 1.2.2. Treat any of these as compromised.

How do I remediate kevinx-baileys if I installed it?

Remove kevinx-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.

I already installed kevinx-baileys — how do I know if it already compromised me?

If kevinx-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.

How do I find kevinx-baileys across my projects, lockfiles, and CI pipelines?

Search your lockfiles and build artifacts for kevinx-baileys (3 malicious versions).

Malicious package

kevinx-baileysnpm

Advisory published Oct 26, 2026Updated Nov 5, 2026

kevinx-baileys is a confirmed malicious npm package (MAL-2026-18688) that executes malicious code on install (malicious versions 1.2.0, 1.2.1, 1.2.2). Do not install it — remove it immediately and rotate any exposed credentials.

Malicious code in kevinx-baileys (npm)

MAL-2026-18688

Immediate action

Remove the package, then rotate any secrets the build/runtime could reach.

npm uninstall kevinx-baileys

What this malware does

kevinx-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) 120363408893555851@newsletter, 120363424295522327@newsletter, 120363426470081124@newsletter, 120363427718144294@newsletter (stored base64-encoded), using the victim's authenticated session and without telling them; the README says "Nothing is followed unless you call it." 1.2.1 was published one directory down (kevinx-baileys/lib/Socket/newsletter.js) under a placeholder package.json whose main, index.js, does not exist, so importing it by name fails, but it ships the same follow code; 1.2.2 restores the normal layout with the same lib/Socket/newsletter.js. Same behaviour as the PhantomSub family (MAL-2026-17342).

Malicious versions

3 flagged

1.2.01.2.11.2.2

Detection & response playbook

Malicious package

Find it
Search your lockfiles and build artifacts for kevinx-baileys (3 malicious versions).
If you installed it — respond
Remove kevinx-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.
Did it already run?
If kevinx-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. kevinx-baileys on npm has been identified as a malicious package (versions 1.2.0, 1.2.1, 1.2.2 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 kevinx-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.

Malware detection Runtime egress monitoring

Explore

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