registry / baileys-xbats / 1.0.0

baileys-xbats@1.0.0

WhatsApp Web API Library

AI Security Review

scanned 8d ago · by lpm-firewall-ai

The package exposes a callable uploader that forwards caller-supplied buffers to public third-party hosts. No automatic install-time or import-time attack was identified.

Static reason

One or more suspicious static signals were detected.; source matched previously finalized malicious package; routed for review; source fingerprint signature matched known malicious package; routed for review

Trigger

A consumer explicitly calls uploadFile with a buffer.

Impact

Caller-provided data may be disclosed to the first reachable public host, outside WhatsApp's media infrastructure.

Mechanism

The function creates multipart upload forms and posts them to a fallback list of public upload services.

AI rationale

The callable uploader transfers arbitrary supplied buffers to unrelated public hosts and has no destination restriction or consent gate. It is not automatically activated, so the evidence supports a warning rather than a publication block.

Evidence

lib/Utils/messages-media.js

Network endpoints5

catbox.moe/user/api.phpscdn.pdi.moe/uploadqu.ax/upload.phpuguu.se/upload.phptmpfiles.org/api/v1/upload

OSV advisory

OpenSSF/OSV

This package is part of a large family (100+ identified as of September 2026) of near-identical forks of the Baileys WhatsApp Web library that inject a covert channel-subscription action into the WhatsApp socket layer. On connect, the injected code issues an authenticated `w:mex` FOLLOW query (query_id 7871414976211147) against one or more attacker-chosen WhatsApp Channel/Newsletter JIDs, using the installer's own authenticated WhatsApp session -- silently subscribing the victim's account to channels it never asked to join. The target JID(s) are hidden from casual source review via one of several obfuscation techniques observed across the family: a plain string literal, base64 encoding, base64+XOR, or a char-code array reconstructed at runtime. Some variants instead fetch a mutable, attacker-controlled remote JSON/JS list of target JIDs from GitHub or another host at runtime, letting the target list change after installation without a new npm publish. Every sample in the family shares the same underlying mechanism (a wrapped/patched socket-connect routine that fires the FOLLOW query some seconds after connect), even though the package name, JID value(s), and obfuscation/delivery method differ per fork. The malicious action abuses the installer's own authenticated WhatsApp session to gain reach and subscribers for attacker-controlled channels; it does not exfiltrate credentials, establish persistence, or execute arbitrary remote code. Affected package: baileys-xbats (npm), version(s): 1.0.3, 1.0.2, 1.0.1, 1.0.0.

baileys-xbats@1.0.0

AI Security Review

OSV advisory

Decision evidence

Source & flagged code

Source & flagged code

Findings

Affected versions and remediation

Source & flagged code