GHSA-796m-2973-wc5q: Openclaw OpenClaw Has Exec Allowlist/safeBins Policy-runtime Vulnerability
MODERATEGHSA-796m-2973-wc5q is a MODERATE openclaw has exec allowlist/safebins policy-runtime vulnerability (CWE-436: Interpretation Conflict) affecting Openclaw libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves openclaw has exec allowlist/safebins policy-runtime mismatch via env -s wrapper interpretation. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2026.2.23.
GHSA-796m-2973-wc5q at a Glance
How to Fix GHSA-796m-2973-wc5q
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.
npm install openclaw@2026.2.23Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:
npm ls openclawHow to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by GHSA-796m-2973-wc5q, inspect your project dependencies using npm:
npm ls openclawAnalyze 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 2026.2.23), 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-436: Interpretation Conflict, where product a handles inputs or steps differently than product b, which causes a to perform incorrect actions based on its perception of b's state. 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
GHSA-796m-2973-wc5q Affected Openclaw Versions
1 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
openclaw
|
npm |
< 2026.2.23
|
2026.2.23
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is GHSA-796m-2973-wc5q?
Which Openclaw versions are affected?
What version fixes GHSA-796m-2973-wc5q?
Is openclaw affected?
What CWE is associated with GHSA-796m-2973-wc5q?
How can I check npm dependencies for GHSA-796m-2973-wc5q?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-796m-2973-wc5q",
"modified" : "2026-03-03T22:23:45Z",
"published" : "2026-03-03T22:23:45Z",
"aliases" : [ ],
"summary" : "OpenClaw has exec allowlist/safeBins policy-runtime mismatch via env -S wrapper interpretation",
"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: `<= 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.",
"severity" : [ {
"type" : "CVSS_V4",
"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"
} ],
"affected" : [ {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "npm",
"name" : "openclaw"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0"
}, {
"fixed" : "2026.2.23"
} ]
} ]
} ],
"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"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-436" ],
"severity" : "MODERATE",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2026-03-03T22:23:45Z",
"nvd_published_at" : null
}
}