MAL-2026-14291 Malicious code in libas-signal (npm)
Malicious package
Published
MAL-2026-14291 is a malicious package: libas-signal (npm). Every version was published to cause harm.
Task:
1. Search this repository's dependency manifests and lockfiles for the package, including transitive dependencies.
2. If it is present, remove it, regenerate the lockfile with the project's package manager, and replace whatever it was used for.
3. List any CI runners, developer machines or containers that installed it, so their secrets can be rotated.
4. If the package is not used anywhere, say so and change nothing.
Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-14291/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-14291/index.md)
- Package
- libas-signal
- Registry
- npm
What is MAL-2026-14291?
MAL-2026-14291 is a malicious package in libas-signal, published on 19 Aug 2026.
Official description
On require() of libas-signal, index.js schedules install.js which locates the installer's @whiskeysockets/baileys package on disk and overwrites lib/Socket/newsletter.js with a modified copy. The injected code, when the installer later runs their Baileys-based WhatsApp bot, silently issues a FOLLOW newsletterWMexQuery against hardcoded channel 120363407277177688@newsletter using the installer's authenticated WhatsApp session. The patch persists on disk after libas-signal exits and continues to run inside the unrelated dependency. The package's advertised identity (Signal Protocol / Whisper Systems crypto library, with a src/ tree copying Signal Protocol code) is unrelated to this behavior and functions as cover for the dependency-tampering payload.
What should I do about MAL-2026-14291?
Remove the package from your dependencies and lockfiles, then rotate any secrets on machines where it was installed.