# MAL-2026-1380: Malicious code in cline (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `cline` (npm)
- **Published:** 19 Feb 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-9ppg-jx86-fqw7

## What is MAL-2026-1380?

MAL-2026-1380 is a malicious package in cline, published on 19 Feb 2026. 

### Official description

The package cline was found to contain malicious code.

### Description
On February 17, 2026 at 3:26 AM PT, an unauthorized party used a compromised npm publish token to publish an update to Cline CLI on the NPM registry: cline@2.3.0. The published package contains a modified package.json with an added postinstall script:
`"postinstall": "npm install -g openclaw@latest"`
This causes openclaw (an unrelated, non-malicious open source package) to be globally installed when cline@2.3.0 is installed. No other files were modified -- the CLI binary (dist/cli.mjs) and all other package contents are identical to the legitimate cline@2.2.3 release.
A corrected version (2.4.0) was published at 11:23 AM PT and 2.3.0 was deprecated at 11:30 AM PT. The compromised token has been revoked and npm publishing now uses OIDC provenance via GitHub Actions.

### Impact
Users who installed Cline CLI cline@2.3.0 during the approximately 8-hour window between 3:26 AM PT and 11:30 AM PT on February 17 will have openclaw globally installed. The openclaw package is a legitimate open source project and is not malicious, but its installation was not authorized or intended.

The Cline VS Code extension and JetBrains plugin were not affected. This advisory applies only to the Cline CLI package published on npm.

### Patches
Versions 2.4.0 and higher are fixed

### Workarounds
If you installed Cline CLI cline@2.3.0:
1. Update to the latest version of the Cline CLI
`cline update` or `npm installl -g cline@latest`
2. Verify that you have a fixed version (2.4.0 or higher)
`cline --version`
3. Review your environment for any unexpected installation of OpenClaw and remove it if not intended
`npm uninstall -g openclaw`

An unauthorized party used a compromised npm publish token to publish v2.3.0
of the Cline CLI on the NPM. The compromise added a postinstall script that
globally installed openclaw.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-1380?

Remove the package from your dependencies and lockfiles, then rotate any secrets on machines where it was installed.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
MAL-2026-1380 is a malicious package: cline (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-2026-1380/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-1380/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-1380

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-1380/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.