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AI & Machine Learning

China Warns Developers Over Claude Code 'Backdoor' Fears

WireByte Staff · July 8, 2026

China's National Vulnerability Database has urged developers to uninstall recent versions of Claude Code due to concerns over 'backdoor code' that can collect sensitive user data without consent, affecting versions 2.1.91 to 2.1.196.

Key points

  • China's National Vulnerability Database (CNVDB) has issued a warning to developers to uninstall recent versions of Claude Code due to 'backdoor code' fears.
  • The affected versions are 2.1.91 (April 2) to 2.1.196 (June 29) and can collect sensitive user data without consent.
  • CNVDB recommends uninstalling or upgrading to the latest secure version and strengthening access permissions to prevent data transmission.
  • Anthropic, the maker of Claude Code, has not commented on the issue, despite previous concerns over its covert code designed to prevent AI model extraction.

China's National Vulnerability Database (CNVDB) has issued a warning to developers to uninstall recent versions of Claude Code, a large language model developed by Anthropic, due to concerns over 'backdoor code' that can collect sensitive user data without consent.

The affected versions are 2.1.91 (April 2) to 2.1.196 (June 29) and can allegedly collect details such as a user's location and identity, and forward them to remote servers. CNVDB recommends uninstalling or upgrading to the latest secure version and strengthening access permissions to prevent data transmission.

Anthropic, the maker of Claude Code, has not commented on the issue, despite previous concerns over its covert code designed to prevent AI model extraction. The lack of response from the company has raised further questions about the security and transparency of its technology.

The warning from CNVDB highlights the growing concerns over the security and ethics of AI models, particularly in the context of data collection and user consent. As AI technology continues to evolve, regulatory bodies and developers must work together to ensure that these models are developed and used responsibly.

Sources

WireByte Staff — Editorial Team

The WireByte editorial team synthesises technology news from multiple primary sources, verifies the facts, and links every source. Articles are produced with AI assistance and reviewed under our editorial policy.