Which versions of ruby-baileys are malicious?

The following npm versions of ruby-baileys are flagged malicious: 1.5.17, 1.5.18. Treat any of these as compromised.

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

Remove ruby-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 ruby-baileys — how do I know if it already compromised me?

If ruby-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 ruby-baileys across my projects, lockfiles, and CI pipelines?

Search your lockfiles and build artifacts for ruby-baileys (2 malicious versions).

Malicious package

ruby-baileysnpm

Advisory published Oct 26, 2026Updated Nov 5, 2026

ruby-baileys is a confirmed malicious npm package (MAL-2026-18693) that executes malicious code on install (malicious versions 1.5.17, 1.5.18). Do not install it — remove it immediately and rotate any exposed credentials.

Malicious code in ruby-baileys (npm)

MAL-2026-18693

Immediate action

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

npm uninstall ruby-baileys

What this malware does

ruby-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 src/Socket/index.js sends the WhatsApp w:mex FOLLOW query for channel invite codes 0029VbDO8tI2phHLTSN2ed0U, 0029VbDXYlKDJ6H1D7Dm0f13, using the victim's authenticated session and without telling them. Same behaviour as the PhantomSub family (MAL-2026-17342).

Malicious versions

2 flagged

1.5.171.5.18

Detection & response playbook

Malicious package

Find it
Search your lockfiles and build artifacts for ruby-baileys (2 malicious versions).
If you installed it — respond
Remove ruby-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 ruby-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. ruby-baileys on npm has been identified as a malicious package (versions 1.5.17, 1.5.18 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 ruby-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

All malware advisories How O3 detects malware Vulnerability database