GHSA-796M-2973-WC5Q
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-03-03 22:23 – Updated: 2026-03-03 22:23Summary
tools.exec allowlist/safe-bins evaluation could diverge from runtime execution for wrapper commands using GNU env -S/--split-string semantics. This allowed policy checks to treat a command as a benign safe-bin invocation while runtime executed a different payload.
Affected Packages / Versions
- Package:
openclaw(npm) - Vulnerable versions:
<= 2026.2.22-2(latest currently published npm version) - Patched version (released):
2026.2.23
Impact
An attacker able to influence tool command text (for example via untrusted prompt/content injection reaching an exec-capable flow) could bypass allowlist/safe-bins intent and execute unexpected commands.
Technical Details
Root cause was policy/runtime interpretation mismatch for dispatch wrappers: - analysis resolved an effective executable from wrapper-unwrapped argv, - execution could still run original wrapper argv semantics, - safe-bin short-flag handling also allowed unknown short options in clusters.
Remediation
The fix hardens exec approvals to fail closed and enforce analysis/runtime parity:
- introduce wrapper execution planning with semantic-wrapper blocking,
- carry planned effectiveArgv + policyBlocked metadata through resolution,
- evaluate allowlist/safe-bins against planned argv,
- enforce canonical rebuilt shell command from planned argv for allowlist auto-paths,
- use planned argv for node-host/mac exec-host invocation paths,
- reject unknown short safe-bin flags,
- add regression tests for semantic env wrappers and parity fixtures.
Fix Commit(s)
a1c4bf07c6baad3ef87a0e710fe9aef127b1f606
Release Process Note
patched_versions is pre-set to the released version (2026.2.23). Patched in 2026.2.23 and published.
OpenClaw thanks @jiseoung for reporting.
{
"affected": [
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "npm",
"name": "openclaw"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "2026.2.23"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-436"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2026-03-03T22:23:45Z",
"nvd_published_at": null,
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "### Summary\n`tools.exec` allowlist/safe-bins evaluation could diverge from runtime execution for wrapper commands using GNU `env -S/--split-string` semantics. This allowed policy checks to treat a command as a benign safe-bin invocation while runtime executed a different payload.\n\n### Affected Packages / Versions\n- Package: `openclaw` (npm)\n- Vulnerable versions: `\u003c= 2026.2.22-2` (latest currently published npm version)\n- Patched version (released): `2026.2.23`\n\n### Impact\nAn attacker able to influence tool command text (for example via untrusted prompt/content injection reaching an exec-capable flow) could bypass allowlist/safe-bins intent and execute unexpected commands.\n\n### Technical Details\nRoot cause was policy/runtime interpretation mismatch for dispatch wrappers:\n- analysis resolved an effective executable from wrapper-unwrapped argv,\n- execution could still run original wrapper argv semantics,\n- safe-bin short-flag handling also allowed unknown short options in clusters.\n\n### Remediation\nThe fix hardens exec approvals to fail closed and enforce analysis/runtime parity:\n- introduce wrapper execution planning with semantic-wrapper blocking,\n- carry planned `effectiveArgv` + `policyBlocked` metadata through resolution,\n- evaluate allowlist/safe-bins against planned argv,\n- enforce canonical rebuilt shell command from planned argv for allowlist auto-paths,\n- use planned argv for node-host/mac exec-host invocation paths,\n- reject unknown short safe-bin flags,\n- add regression tests for semantic `env` wrappers and parity fixtures.\n\n### Fix Commit(s)\n- `a1c4bf07c6baad3ef87a0e710fe9aef127b1f606`\n\n### Release Process Note\n`patched_versions` is pre-set to the released version (`2026.2.23`). Patched in `2026.2.23` and published.\n\nOpenClaw thanks @jiseoung for reporting.",
"id": "GHSA-796m-2973-wc5q",
"modified": "2026-03-03T22:23:45Z",
"published": "2026-03-03T22:23:45Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-796m-2973-wc5q"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/a1c4bf07c6baad3ef87a0e710fe9aef127b1f606"
},
{
"type": "PACKAGE",
"url": "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N",
"type": "CVSS_V4"
}
],
"summary": "OpenClaw has exec allowlist/safeBins policy-runtime mismatch via env -S wrapper interpretation"
}
Sightings
| Author | Source | Type | Date | Other |
|---|
Nomenclature
- Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
- Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
- Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
- Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
- Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
- Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
- Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
- Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.