kevinx-baileys@1.2.2
KevinX Baileys — a WebSockets library for interacting with WhatsApp Web (multi-device, pairing code, interactive messages, newsletter, auto-reconnect, send queue, typings).
OpenSSF/OSV Malicious Advisory
imported 11m ago · by OpenSSF/OSVOpenSSF/OSV advisory MAL-2026-18688 confirms this npm version as malicious.
Advisory
MAL-2026-18688
Source
OpenSSF Malicious Packages via OSV
Summary
Malicious code in kevinx-baileys (npm)
Details
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).
References
Independent LPM AI assessment
SuspiciousIndependent AI assessment: suspicious. LPM AI assessed this version as suspicious; the assessments disagree.
The package does not send this data automatically, but its exposed phone-number lookup silently sends the number to a hard-coded third-party host. This is an undisclosed runtime disclosure, so warn rather than block.
Static reason
One or more suspicious static signals were detected.; source matched previously finalized malicious package; routed for review
Trigger
A consumer explicitly calls `socket.checkBan(number)`.
Impact
The lookup discloses the phone number to a host not identified as the package's service; the source does not disclose this data sharing.
Mechanism
The method strips non-digits and places the resulting number in a GET query to `https://kyuux-r.indevs.in/api/check-whatsapp`.
AI rationale
The package does not send this data automatically, but its exposed phone-number lookup silently sends the number to a hard-coded third-party host. This is an undisclosed runtime disclosure, so warn rather than block.
Evidence
lib/Socket/socket.js
Network endpoints1
kyuux-r.indevs.in
Independent scan evidence
public snapshotAI called this Suspicious at 83.0% confidence as Dangerous Capability with medium false-positive risk.
Evidence for AI warning decision
- The socket exposes `checkBan`; calling it sends the supplied phone number to `kyuux-r.indevs.in`.
- The phone-number lookup is an explicit socket method, not an install or import action.
Evidence against
- The preinstall script only checks the Node.js version.
- Automatic channel following defaults to an empty list, and update checks are opt-in.
Behavioral surface
ChildProcessCryptoEnvironmentVarsFilesystemNetworkShellWebSocket
HighEntropyStringsUrlStrings
Oversized source lightweight scan
WAProto/index.js
Source & flagged code
8 flaggedpackage.jsonView file
•scripts.preinstall = node ./engine-requirements.js
High
Install Time Lifecycle Scripts
Package defines install-time lifecycle scripts.
package.jsonView on unpkglib/WABinary/constants.jsView file
600patternName = google_api_key
severity = high
line = 600
High
High Secret
Package contains a high-severity secret pattern.
lib/WABinary/constants.jsView on unpkg · L600600patternName = google_api_key
severity = high
line = 600
High
Secret Pattern
Google API key in lib/WABinary/constants.js
lib/WABinary/constants.jsView on unpkg · L600Findings
5 High5 Medium6 Low
HighInstall Time Lifecycle Scriptspackage.json
HighHigh Secretlib/WABinary/constants.js
HighSemantic Analysis Limitedlib/Utils/business.js
HighKnown Malware Source Similaritylib/Utils/messages-media.js
HighSecret Patternlib/WABinary/constants.js
MediumNetwork
MediumEnvironment Vars
MediumShips Build HelperWAProto/GenerateStatics.sh
MediumOversized Source FileWAProto/index.js
MediumStructural Risk Force Deep Review
LowNon Install Lifecycle Scripts
LowScripts Present
LowWeak Cryptolib/Utils/validate-connection.js
Low
Affected versions and remediation
This report applies to kevinx-baileys@1.2.2.
See all versions of kevinx-baileys for other recorded verdicts.
- Avoid installing kevinx-baileys@1.2.2. Remove it from direct dependencies and check your lockfile for transitive copies.
- Choose an independently verified alternative or release. This report does not establish that other versions are safe.
- If this version ran, investigate the affected machine and build environment. Rotate credentials it could access and rebuild from a trusted environment.
Evidence last updated: .
Source advisory published: .
Think this verdict is wrong? Dispute it on GitHub or read how reports are produced.