Vulnerability MAL-2026-18880
Summary
Malicious code in @ranstech/bails (npm)
Details
@ranstech/bails 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) 120363349140729983@newsletter, 120363371199176376@newsletter, 120363404953742204@newsletter, 120363408883778327@newsletter, 120363409519566274@newsletter, 120363410018949906@newsletter and 5 more (stored as base64 strings), using the victim's authenticated session and without telling them. Same behaviour as the PhantomSub family (MAL-2026-17342).