CVE-2026-31993: OpenClaw macOS companion app (beta) Allowlist Parsing Mismatch For System.run Vulnerability

LOW
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-5f9p-f3w2-fwch
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CWE-285 CWE-184
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-31993 is a LOW allowlist parsing mismatch for system.run vulnerability (CWE-285: Improper Authorization) affecting OpenClaw macOS companion app (beta) libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves allowlist parsing mismatch for system.run shell chains. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2026.2.22.

CVE-2026-31993 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-31993
GHSA Identifier GHSA-5f9p-f3w2-fwch
Severity LOW
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-285: Improper Authorization
Affected Product OpenClaw macOS companion app (beta)
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2026-31993

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected OpenClaw macOS companion app (beta) 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: 2026.2.22 
npm install openclaw@2026.2.22
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-2026-31993, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls openclaw

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of OpenClaw macOS companion app (beta) in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2026.2.22), 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-285: Improper Authorization, where the product does not perform or incorrectly performs an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action. In OpenClaw macOS companion app (beta), 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 In the macOS companion app (**currently beta**), a parsing mismatch in exec approvals could let shell-chain payloads pass allowlist checks in `system.run` under specific settings. ### Impact This path requires all of the following: - authenticated caller with `operator.write` - paired macOS beta node host - exec approvals set to `security=allowlist` and `ask=on-miss` Under those conditions, a shell-chain command could be approved from an incomplete command view and then executed on the paired macOS host. ### Default Install Status Default installs are not affected. ### Affected Packages / Versions - Package: `openclaw` (npm) - Affected: `<= 2026.2.21-2` - Patched (planned next release): `>= 2026.2.22` ### Technical Details The fix hardens macOS allowlist resolution by evaluating shell chains per segment and failing closed on unsafe shell-substitution parsing in allowlist mode. ### Product Status Note The affected macOS companion app path is currently in beta. ### Fix Commit(s) - `5da03e622119fa012285cdb590fcf4264c965cb5` - `e371da38aab99521c4e076cd3d95fd775e00b784` ### Release Process Note `patched_versions` is pre-set to the planned next npm release (`2026.2.22`) so once that version is published, this advisory can be published without additional metadata edits. OpenClaw thanks @tdjackey for reporting.

CVE-2026-31993 Affected OpenClaw macOS companion app (beta) Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2026.2.22
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
openclaw
npm/openclaw
npm
< 2026.2.22
2026.2.22

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-5f9p-f3w2-fwch
NVD — CVE-2026-31993 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-31993
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/5da03e622119fa012285cdb590fcf4264c965cb5
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/e371da38aab99521c4e076cd3d95fd775e00b784
OpenClaw macOS companion app (beta) Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw
www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw... WEB
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-allowlist-parsing-mismatch-in-system-run-shell-chains

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-31993?
CVE-2026-31993 is a security vulnerability in OpenClaw macOS companion app (beta) involving allowlist parsing mismatch for system.run shell chains under CWE-285: Improper Authorization.
Which OpenClaw macOS companion app (beta) versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2026.2.22 across affected packages: openclaw.
What version fixes CVE-2026-31993?
Upgrading to 2026.2.22 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is openclaw affected?
Yes, openclaw is affected in releases prior to 2026.2.22. Upgrade your dependency to 2026.2.22 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-31993?
CVE-2026-31993 is classified under CWE-285: Improper Authorization (The product does not perform or incorrectly performs an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2026-31993?
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-5f9p-f3w2-fwch",
  "modified" : "2026-03-19T21:22:24Z",
  "published" : "2026-03-02T22:17:01Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-31993" ],
  "summary" : "OpenClaw macOS companion app (beta): allowlist parsing mismatch for system.run shell chains",
  "details" : "### Summary\nIn the macOS companion app (**currently beta**), a parsing mismatch in exec approvals could let shell-chain payloads pass allowlist checks in `system.run` under specific settings.\n\n### Impact\nThis path requires all of the following:\n- authenticated caller with `operator.write`\n- paired macOS beta node host\n- exec approvals set to `security=allowlist` and `ask=on-miss`\n\nUnder those conditions, a shell-chain command could be approved from an incomplete command view and then executed on the paired macOS host.\n\n### Default Install Status\nDefault installs are not affected.\n\n### Affected Packages / Versions\n- Package: `openclaw` (npm)\n- Affected: `<= 2026.2.21-2`\n- Patched (planned next release): `>= 2026.2.22`\n\n### Technical Details\nThe fix hardens macOS allowlist resolution by evaluating shell chains per segment and failing closed on unsafe shell-substitution parsing in allowlist mode.\n\n### Product Status Note\nThe affected macOS companion app path is currently in beta.\n\n### Fix Commit(s)\n- `5da03e622119fa012285cdb590fcf4264c965cb5`\n- `e371da38aab99521c4e076cd3d95fd775e00b784`\n\n### Release Process Note\n`patched_versions` is pre-set to the planned next npm release (`2026.2.22`) so once that version is published, this advisory can be published without additional metadata edits.\n\nOpenClaw thanks @tdjackey for reporting.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:L/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "openclaw"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2026.2.22"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-5f9p-f3w2-fwch"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-31993"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/5da03e622119fa012285cdb590fcf4264c965cb5"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/e371da38aab99521c4e076cd3d95fd775e00b784"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-allowlist-parsing-mismatch-in-system-run-shell-chains"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-184", "CWE-285" ],
    "severity" : "LOW",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-03-02T22:17:01Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}