[BUG] Image input causes Claude Code to hang/freeze (regression)

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

What's Wrong?:
When pasting an image or referencing an image file path in Claude Code, the session hangs/freezes.

• Pasting an image: gets stuck at "pasting txt" and never completes
• Referencing a file path: the image loads (shows [image 1]), but then Claude Code hangs and becomes unresponsive

This was previously working — image input (both paste and file path) used to work fine.

What Should Happen?

Claude Code should accept the image input (via paste or file path reference) and respond normally, as it did in
previous versions.

Error Messages/Logs

No error messages — the process simply hangs indefinitely.
  When pasting: stuck at "pasting text"
  When using file path: shows [image 1] then freezes with no response

Steps to Reproduce

1. Open Claude Code in terminal
2. Try either method:

a) Paste an image into the prompt → gets stuck at "pasting txt"
b) Type a message referencing an image file path (e.g. "describe this image /path/to/image.png") → shows [image 1]
then hangs

1. Claude Code becomes unresponsive, requires Ctrl+C to exit

Claude Model

Sonnet (default)

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.7

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Terminal.app (macOS)

Additional Information

Additional Information:

• Happens with all image sizes and formats (PNG, JPG)
• macOS Darwin 25.3.0
• Node.js v25
• Issue occurs regardless of image size