CVE-2026-32046: OpenClaw Chrome --no-sandbox Disabled OS-level Browser Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-43x4-g22p-3hrq
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CWE-693
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-32046 is a MODERATE chrome --no-sandbox disabled os-level browser vulnerability (CWE-693: Protection Mechanism Failure) affecting OpenClaw libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves chrome --no-sandbox disabled os-level browser sandbox in sandbox browser container. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2026.2.21.

CVE-2026-32046 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-32046
GHSA Identifier GHSA-43x4-g22p-3hrq
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-693: Protection Mechanism Failure
Affected Product OpenClaw
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2026-32046

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected OpenClaw dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

openclaw fixed: 2026.2.21 
npm install openclaw@2026.2.21
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

npm ls openclaw

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2026-32046, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls openclaw

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of OpenClaw in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2026.2.21), your application is affected.

Note: The npm ls openclaw command inspects dependencies declared in your package.json and lockfile; it does not perform automated runtime dynamic scanning.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-693: Protection Mechanism Failure, where the product does not use or incorrectly uses a protection mechanism that provides sufficient defense against directed attacks against the product. In OpenClaw, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

## Summary Sandbox browser container launched Chromium with `--no-sandbox` by default, disabling Chromium's OS-level sandbox protections. ## Affected Packages / Versions - Package: `openclaw` (npm ecosystem) - Latest published npm version at triage time (2026-02-21): `2026.2.19-2` - Affected range: `<= 2026.2.19-2` - Planned patched version for next release: `2026.2.21` ## Impact When `--no-sandbox` is enabled by default, renderer compromise no longer requires a separate sandbox escape. This weakens container browser isolation and increases impact from renderer-side bugs. ## Resolution - Default `--no-sandbox` removed from sandbox browser entrypoint. - Explicit opt-in added via `OPENCLAW_BROWSER_NO_SANDBOX` / `CLAWDBOT_BROWSER_NO_SANDBOX`. - Browser container hash migration + security audit checks added so stale containers are surfaced and can be recreated safely. ## Fix Commit(s) - e7eba01efc4c3c400e9cfd3ce3d661cbc788a631 - 1835dec2004fe7a62c6a7ba46b8485f124ec6199 ## Release Process Note The advisory `patched_versions` field is pre-set to the planned next release (`2026.2.21`). After npm release publication, only advisory publish action should remain. OpenClaw thanks @TerminalsandCoffee for reporting.

CVE-2026-32046 Affected OpenClaw Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2026.2.21
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
openclaw
npm/openclaw
npm
< 2026.2.21
2026.2.21

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-43x4-g22p-3hrq
NVD — CVE-2026-32046 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-32046
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/1835dec2004fe7a62c6a7ba46b8485f124ec6199
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/e7eba01efc4c3c400e9cfd3ce3d661cbc788a631
OpenClaw Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw
www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw... WEB
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-os-level-sandbox-bypass-via-no-sandbox-flag

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-32046?
CVE-2026-32046 is a security vulnerability in OpenClaw involving Chrome --no-sandbox disabled OS-level browser sandbox in sandbox browser container under CWE-693: Protection Mechanism Failure.
Which OpenClaw versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2026.2.21 across affected packages: openclaw.
What version fixes CVE-2026-32046?
Upgrading to 2026.2.21 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is openclaw affected?
Yes, openclaw is affected in releases prior to 2026.2.21. Upgrade your dependency to 2026.2.21 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-32046?
CVE-2026-32046 is classified under CWE-693: Protection Mechanism Failure (The product does not use or incorrectly uses a protection mechanism that provides sufficient defense against directed attacks against the product.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2026-32046?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls openclaw'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-43x4-g22p-3hrq",
  "modified" : "2026-03-30T13:35:13Z",
  "published" : "2026-03-03T18:10:34Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-32046" ],
  "summary" : "OpenClaw: Chrome --no-sandbox disabled OS-level browser sandbox in sandbox browser container",
  "details" : "## Summary\nSandbox browser container launched Chromium with `--no-sandbox` by default, disabling Chromium's OS-level sandbox protections.\n\n## Affected Packages / Versions\n- Package: `openclaw` (npm ecosystem)\n- Latest published npm version at triage time (2026-02-21): `2026.2.19-2`\n- Affected range: `<= 2026.2.19-2`\n- Planned patched version for next release: `2026.2.21`\n\n## Impact\nWhen `--no-sandbox` is enabled by default, renderer compromise no longer requires a separate sandbox escape. This weakens container browser isolation and increases impact from renderer-side bugs.\n\n## Resolution\n- Default `--no-sandbox` removed from sandbox browser entrypoint.\n- Explicit opt-in added via `OPENCLAW_BROWSER_NO_SANDBOX` / `CLAWDBOT_BROWSER_NO_SANDBOX`.\n- Browser container hash migration + security audit checks added so stale containers are surfaced and can be recreated safely.\n\n## Fix Commit(s)\n- e7eba01efc4c3c400e9cfd3ce3d661cbc788a631\n- 1835dec2004fe7a62c6a7ba46b8485f124ec6199\n\n## Release Process Note\nThe advisory `patched_versions` field is pre-set to the planned next release (`2026.2.21`). After npm release publication, only advisory publish action should remain.\n\nOpenClaw thanks @TerminalsandCoffee for reporting.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "openclaw"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2026.2.21"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-43x4-g22p-3hrq"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-32046"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/1835dec2004fe7a62c6a7ba46b8485f124ec6199"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/e7eba01efc4c3c400e9cfd3ce3d661cbc788a631"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-os-level-sandbox-bypass-via-no-sandbox-flag"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-693" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-03-03T18:10:34Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}