GHSA-ff98-w8hj-qrxf: Openclaw OpenClaw Plugin Runtime Command Execution Vulnerability

MODERATE
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CWE-78
Published
Advisory Summary

GHSA-ff98-w8hj-qrxf is a MODERATE openclaw plugin runtime command execution vulnerability (CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')) affecting Openclaw libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves openclaw plugin runtime command execution is part of trusted plugin boundary. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2026.2.19.

GHSA-ff98-w8hj-qrxf at a Glance

CVE Identifier N/A
GHSA Identifier GHSA-ff98-w8hj-qrxf
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
Affected Product Openclaw
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix GHSA-ff98-w8hj-qrxf

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: 2026.2.19 
npm install openclaw@2026.2.19
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 GHSA-ff98-w8hj-qrxf, 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 2026.2.19), 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-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of an os command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended os command when it is sent to a downstream component. 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 plugins/extensions run in-process and are treated as trusted code. This advisory tracks trust-boundary clarification around plugin runtime command execution (`runtime.system.runCommandWithTimeout`). ### Impact Plugins already execute with the same OS privileges as the OpenClaw process. Exposing runtime command helpers does not cross an additional sandbox boundary. ### Affected Packages / Versions - Package: `openclaw` (npm) - Latest published version reviewed: `2026.2.17` - Affected range for this advisory record: `<= 2026.2.17` - Planned patched version metadata: `2026.2.19` (next release line) ### Fix Commit(s) - `2e421f32dfc589c02706265fd3c3137ffc06c4b1` ### Remediation - Install only trusted plugins. - Use `plugins.allow` to pin explicit trusted plugin IDs. - SECURITY.md now explicitly documents that plugin runtime helpers are convenience APIs, not a sandbox boundary. OpenClaw thanks @markmusson for reporting.

GHSA-ff98-w8hj-qrxf Affected Openclaw Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2026.2.19
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
openclaw
npm/openclaw
npm
< 2026.2.19
2026.2.19

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-ff98-w8hj-qrxf
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/2e421f32dfc589c02706265fd3c3137ffc06c4b1
Openclaw Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw

Frequently Asked Questions

What is GHSA-ff98-w8hj-qrxf?
GHSA-ff98-w8hj-qrxf is a security vulnerability in Openclaw involving OpenClaw plugin runtime command execution is part of trusted plugin boundary under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection').
Which Openclaw versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2026.2.19 across affected packages: openclaw.
What version fixes GHSA-ff98-w8hj-qrxf?
Upgrading to 2026.2.19 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is openclaw affected?
Yes, openclaw is affected in releases prior to 2026.2.19. Upgrade your dependency to 2026.2.19 or later.
What CWE is associated with GHSA-ff98-w8hj-qrxf?
GHSA-ff98-w8hj-qrxf is classified under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') (The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command when it is sent to a downstream component.).
How can I check npm dependencies for GHSA-ff98-w8hj-qrxf?
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-ff98-w8hj-qrxf",
  "modified" : "2026-03-03T21:39:26Z",
  "published" : "2026-03-03T21:39:26Z",
  "aliases" : [ ],
  "summary" : "OpenClaw plugin runtime command execution is part of trusted plugin boundary",
  "details" : "### Summary\nOpenClaw plugins/extensions run in-process and are treated as trusted code. This advisory tracks trust-boundary clarification around plugin runtime command execution (`runtime.system.runCommandWithTimeout`).\n\n### Impact\nPlugins already execute with the same OS privileges as the OpenClaw process. Exposing runtime command helpers does not cross an additional sandbox boundary.\n\n### Affected Packages / Versions\n- Package: `openclaw` (npm)\n- Latest published version reviewed: `2026.2.17`\n- Affected range for this advisory record: `<= 2026.2.17`\n- Planned patched version metadata: `2026.2.19` (next release line)\n\n### Fix Commit(s)\n- `2e421f32dfc589c02706265fd3c3137ffc06c4b1`\n\n### Remediation\n- Install only trusted plugins.\n- Use `plugins.allow` to pin explicit trusted plugin IDs.\n- SECURITY.md now explicitly documents that plugin runtime helpers are convenience APIs, not a sandbox boundary.\n\nOpenClaw thanks @markmusson for reporting.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "openclaw"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2026.2.19"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-ff98-w8hj-qrxf"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/2e421f32dfc589c02706265fd3c3137ffc06c4b1"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-78" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-03-03T21:39:26Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}