List flags: JSON only when bracket-wrapped; exit 5 on a bad JSON list (1.2.25)

package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@linkedapi/linkedin-cli",
-  "version": "1.2.24",
+  "version": "1.2.25",
   "description": "AI-agent-friendly CLI for controlling LinkedIn accounts and retrieving real-time data.",
   "author": "Linked API",
   "license": "MIT",

src/utils/split-list-flag.ts

@@ -1,16 +1,21 @@
+import { Errors } from '@oclif/core';
+
+import { EXIT_CODE } from '@core/errors/exit-codes';
+
 /**
- * Splits a list flag into its values: comma-separated, or a JSON array of strings when the flag
- * starts with `[`.
+ * Splits a list flag into its values: comma-separated, or a JSON array of strings when the flag is
+ * wrapped in `[` and `]`.
  *
  * The JSON form exists for values that contain a comma themselves – a "City, Region" location, an
  * industry such as "Technology, Information and Internet", a company such as "Example Co., Ltd." –
- * which a comma list would silently split into separate filters.
+ * which a comma list would silently split into separate filters. Only a value both starting with
+ * `[` and ending with `]` is read as JSON, so a literal such as "[24]7.ai" stays a plain value.
  */
 export function splitListFlag(value: string): Array<string> {
   const trimmedValue = value.trim();
 
-  if (!trimmedValue.startsWith('[')) {
-    return value.split(',').map((element) => element.trim());
+  if (!trimmedValue.startsWith('[') || !trimmedValue.endsWith(']')) {
+    return value.split(',').map((element): string => element.trim());
   }
 
   return parseJsonList(trimmedValue);
@@ -19,13 +24,17 @@ export function splitListFlag(value: string): Array<string> {
 function parseJsonList(value: string): Array<string> {
   const parsedValue = parseJson(value);
 
-  if (!Array.isArray(parsedValue) || !parsedValue.every((element) => typeof element === 'string')) {
-    throw new Error(
+  if (
+    !Array.isArray(parsedValue) ||
+    !parsedValue.every((element): boolean => typeof element === 'string')
+  ) {
+    throw new Errors.CLIError(
       `Invalid list value: ${value}. Expected comma-separated values or a JSON array of strings, e.g. '["Chicago, Illinois","Denver"]'`,
+      { exit: EXIT_CODE.VALIDATION },
     );
   }
 
-  return parsedValue.map((element) => element.trim());
+  return parsedValue.map((element): string => element.trim());
 }
 
 function parseJson(value: string): unknown {