CVE-2026-32920: OpenClaw Workspace Plugin Auto-discovery Allowed Code Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-99qw-6mr3-36qr
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CWE-829
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-32920 is a HIGH workspace plugin auto-discovery allowed code vulnerability (CWE-829: Inclusion of Functionality from Untrusted Control Sphere) affecting OpenClaw libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves workspace plugin auto-discovery allowed code execution from cloned repositories. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2026.3.12.

CVE-2026-32920 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-32920
GHSA Identifier GHSA-99qw-6mr3-36qr
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-829: Inclusion of Functionality from Untrusted Control Sphere
Affected Product OpenClaw
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2026-32920

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: 2026.3.12 
npm install openclaw@2026.3.12
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-2026-32920, 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 2026.3.12), 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-829: Inclusion of Functionality from Untrusted Control Sphere, where the product imports, requires, or includes executable functionality (such as a library) from a source that is outside of the intended control sphere. 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 OpenClaw automatically discovered and loaded plugins from `.openclaw/extensions/` inside the current workspace without an explicit trust or install step. A malicious repository could include a crafted workspace plugin that executed as soon as a user ran OpenClaw from that cloned directory. ### Impact Opening or running OpenClaw in an untrusted repository could lead to arbitrary code execution under the user's account. ### Affected versions `openclaw` `<= 2026.3.11` ### Patch Fixed in `openclaw` `2026.3.12`. Workspace plugin loading now requires explicit trusted state before execution. Users should update to `2026.3.12` or later and avoid running OpenClaw inside untrusted repositories on older releases.

CVE-2026-32920 Affected OpenClaw Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2026.3.12
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
openclaw
npm/openclaw
npm
< 2026.3.12
2026.3.12

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-99qw-6mr3-36qr
NVD — CVE-2026-32920 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-32920
OpenClaw Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw
OpenClaw Release RELEASE
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/releases/tag/v2026.3.12
www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw... WEB
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-arbitrary-code-execution-via-auto-discovery-of-workspace-plugins

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-32920?
CVE-2026-32920 is a security vulnerability in OpenClaw involving Workspace plugin auto-discovery allowed code execution from cloned repositories under CWE-829: Inclusion of Functionality from Untrusted Control Sphere.
Which OpenClaw versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2026.3.12 across affected packages: openclaw.
What version fixes CVE-2026-32920?
Upgrading to 2026.3.12 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is openclaw affected?
Yes, openclaw is affected in releases prior to 2026.3.12. Upgrade your dependency to 2026.3.12 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-32920?
CVE-2026-32920 is classified under CWE-829: Inclusion of Functionality from Untrusted Control Sphere (The product imports, requires, or includes executable functionality (such as a library) from a source that is outside of the intended control sphere.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2026-32920?
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-99qw-6mr3-36qr",
  "modified" : "2026-04-06T22:49:40Z",
  "published" : "2026-03-13T20:55:13Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-32920" ],
  "summary" : "OpenClaw: Workspace plugin auto-discovery allowed code execution from cloned repositories",
  "details" : "### Summary\n\nOpenClaw automatically discovered and loaded plugins from `.openclaw/extensions/` inside the current workspace without an explicit trust or install step. A malicious repository could include a crafted workspace plugin that executed as soon as a user ran OpenClaw from that cloned directory.\n\n### Impact\n\nOpening or running OpenClaw in an untrusted repository could lead to arbitrary code execution under the user's account.\n\n### Affected versions\n\n`openclaw` `<= 2026.3.11`\n\n### Patch\n\nFixed in `openclaw` `2026.3.12`. Workspace plugin loading now requires explicit trusted state before execution. Users should update to `2026.3.12` or later and avoid running OpenClaw inside untrusted repositories on older releases.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "openclaw"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2026.3.12"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 2026.3.11"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-99qw-6mr3-36qr"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-32920"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/releases/tag/v2026.3.12"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-arbitrary-code-execution-via-auto-discovery-of-workspace-plugins"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-829" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-03-13T20:55:13Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}