CVE-2026-32978: OpenClaw Unrecognized Script Runners Could Bypass Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-qc36-x95h-7j53
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CVSS 8.0
CWE-863
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-32978 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.0) unrecognized script runners could bypass vulnerability (CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization) affecting OpenClaw libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves unrecognized script runners could bypass `system.run` approval integrity. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2026.3.11.

CVE-2026-32978 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-32978
GHSA Identifier GHSA-qc36-x95h-7j53
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.0
CWE Classification CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization
Affected Product OpenClaw
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.0

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity High (AC:H)
Privileges Required Low (PR:L)
User Interaction Required (UI:R)
Scope Changed (S:C)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2026-32978

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: 2026.3.11 
npm install openclaw@2026.3.11
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-2026-32978, 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 2026.3.11), 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-863: Incorrect Authorization, where the product performs an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action, but it does not correctly perform the check. 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 In affected versions of `openclaw`, node-host `system.run` approvals did not bind a mutable file operand for some script runners, including forms such as `tsx` and `jiti`. An attacker could obtain approval for a benign script-runner command, rewrite the referenced script on disk, and have the modified code execute under the already approved run context. ## Impact Deployments that rely on node-host `system.run` approvals for script integrity could execute rewritten local code after operator approval. This can lead to unintended local code execution as the OpenClaw runtime user. ## Affected Packages and Versions - Package: `openclaw` (npm) - Affected versions: `< 2026.3.11` - Fixed in: `2026.3.11` ## Technical Details The approval planner only tracked mutable script operands for a hardcoded set of interpreters and runtime forms. Commands such as `tsx ./run.ts` and `jiti ./run.ts` fell through without a bound file snapshot, so the final pre-execution revalidation step was skipped. ## Fix OpenClaw now fails closed for approval-backed interpreter and runtime commands unless it can bind exactly one concrete local file operand, and it extends direct-file binding coverage for additional runtime forms. The fix shipped in `openclaw@2026.3.11`. ## Workarounds Upgrade to `2026.3.11` or later.

CVE-2026-32978 Affected OpenClaw Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2026.3.11
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
openclaw
npm/openclaw
npm
< 2026.3.11
2026.3.11

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-qc36-x95h-7j53
NVD — CVE-2026-32978 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-32978
OpenClaw Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw
OpenClaw Release RELEASE
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/releases/tag/v2026.3.11
www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw... WEB
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-approval-bypass-via-unrecognized-script-runners

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-32978?
CVE-2026-32978 is a security vulnerability in OpenClaw involving Unrecognized script runners could bypass `system.run` approval integrity under CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization.
Which OpenClaw versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2026.3.11 across affected packages: openclaw.
What version fixes CVE-2026-32978?
Upgrading to 2026.3.11 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is openclaw affected?
Yes, openclaw is affected in releases prior to 2026.3.11. Upgrade your dependency to 2026.3.11 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-32978?
CVE-2026-32978 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.0 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-32978?
CVE-2026-32978 is classified under CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization (The product performs an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action, but it does not correctly perform the check.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2026-32978?
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-qc36-x95h-7j53",
  "modified" : "2026-04-06T22:35:57Z",
  "published" : "2026-03-13T15:48:05Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-32978" ],
  "summary" : "OpenClaw: Unrecognized script runners could bypass `system.run` approval integrity",
  "details" : "## Summary\nIn affected versions of `openclaw`, node-host `system.run` approvals did not bind a mutable file operand for some script runners, including forms such as `tsx` and `jiti`. An attacker could obtain approval for a benign script-runner command, rewrite the referenced script on disk, and have the modified code execute under the already approved run context.\n\n## Impact\nDeployments that rely on node-host `system.run` approvals for script integrity could execute rewritten local code after operator approval. This can lead to unintended local code execution as the OpenClaw runtime user.\n\n## Affected Packages and Versions\n- Package: `openclaw` (npm)\n- Affected versions: `< 2026.3.11`\n- Fixed in: `2026.3.11`\n\n## Technical Details\nThe approval planner only tracked mutable script operands for a hardcoded set of interpreters and runtime forms. Commands such as `tsx ./run.ts` and `jiti ./run.ts` fell through without a bound file snapshot, so the final pre-execution revalidation step was skipped.\n\n## Fix\nOpenClaw now fails closed for approval-backed interpreter and runtime commands unless it can bind exactly one concrete local file operand, and it extends direct-file binding coverage for additional runtime forms. The fix shipped in `openclaw@2026.3.11`.\n\n## Workarounds\nUpgrade to `2026.3.11` or later.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "openclaw"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2026.3.11"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-qc36-x95h-7j53"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-32978"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/releases/tag/v2026.3.11"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-approval-bypass-via-unrecognized-script-runners"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-863" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-03-13T15:48:05Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}