CVE-2026-32056: Openclaw Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-xgf2-vxv2-rrmg
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CVSS 7.5
CWE-15 CWE-78
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-32056 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.5) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-15: External Control of System or Configuration Setting) affecting Openclaw libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves openclaw's shell startup env injection bypasses system.run allowlist intent (rce class). Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2026.2.22.

CVE-2026-32056 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-32056
GHSA Identifier GHSA-xgf2-vxv2-rrmg
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.5
CWE Classification CWE-15: External Control of System or Configuration Setting
Affected Product Openclaw
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.5

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:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity High (AC:H)
Privileges Required Low (PR:L)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2026-32056

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: 2026.2.22 
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-2026-32056, 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 2026.2.22), 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-15: External Control of System or Configuration Setting, where one or more system settings or configuration elements can be externally controlled by a user. 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 `system.run` environment sanitization allowed shell-startup env overrides (`HOME`, `ZDOTDIR`) that can execute attacker-controlled startup files before allowlist-evaluated command bodies. ### Affected Packages / Versions - Package: `openclaw` (npm) - Affected: `<= 2026.2.21-2` (latest published vulnerable version) - Planned patched version: `>= 2026.2.22` ### Technical Details In affected versions: - Env sanitization blocked many dangerous keys, but not startup-sensitive override keys (`HOME`, `ZDOTDIR`) in host exec env paths. - Shell-wrapper analysis for allowlist mode models command bodies, but not shell startup side effects. - Runtime execution used sanitized env, so attacker-provided startup-key overrides could run hidden startup payloads first. Observed exploit vectors: - `HOME` + `bash -lc` + malicious `.bash_profile` - `ZDOTDIR` + `zsh -c` + malicious `.zshenv` ### Fix Commit(s) - `c2c7114ed39a547ab6276e1e933029b9530ee906` ### Release Process Note `patched_versions` is pre-set to the planned next release (`>= 2026.2.22`). After the npm release is published, this advisory can be published directly. OpenClaw thanks @tdjackey for reporting.

CVE-2026-32056 Affected Openclaw 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-xgf2-vxv2-rrmg
NVD — CVE-2026-32056 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-32056
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/c2c7114ed39a547ab6276e1e933029b9530ee906
Openclaw Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw
www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw... WEB
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-remote-code-execution-via-shell-startup-environment-variable-injection-in-system-run

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-32056?
CVE-2026-32056 is a security vulnerability in Openclaw involving OpenClaw's shell startup env injection bypasses system.run allowlist intent (RCE class) under CWE-15: External Control of System or Configuration Setting.
Which Openclaw versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2026.2.22 across affected packages: openclaw.
What version fixes CVE-2026-32056?
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 is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-32056?
CVE-2026-32056 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-32056?
CVE-2026-32056 is classified under CWE-15: External Control of System or Configuration Setting (One or more system settings or configuration elements can be externally controlled by a user.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2026-32056?
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-xgf2-vxv2-rrmg",
  "modified" : "2026-03-30T13:37:58Z",
  "published" : "2026-03-03T22:12:51Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-32056" ],
  "summary" : "OpenClaw's shell startup env injection bypasses system.run allowlist intent (RCE class)",
  "details" : "### Summary\n`system.run` environment sanitization allowed shell-startup env overrides (`HOME`, `ZDOTDIR`) that can execute attacker-controlled startup files before allowlist-evaluated command bodies.\n\n### Affected Packages / Versions\n- Package: `openclaw` (npm)\n- Affected: `<= 2026.2.21-2` (latest published vulnerable version)\n- Planned patched version: `>= 2026.2.22`\n\n### Technical Details\nIn affected versions:\n- Env sanitization blocked many dangerous keys, but not startup-sensitive override keys (`HOME`, `ZDOTDIR`) in host exec env paths.\n- Shell-wrapper analysis for allowlist mode models command bodies, but not shell startup side effects.\n- Runtime execution used sanitized env, so attacker-provided startup-key overrides could run hidden startup payloads first.\n\nObserved exploit vectors:\n- `HOME` + `bash -lc` + malicious `.bash_profile`\n- `ZDOTDIR` + `zsh -c` + malicious `.zshenv`\n\n### Fix Commit(s)\n- `c2c7114ed39a547ab6276e1e933029b9530ee906`\n\n### Release Process Note\n`patched_versions` is pre-set to the planned next release (`>= 2026.2.22`). After the npm release is published, this advisory can be published directly.\n\nOpenClaw thanks @tdjackey for reporting.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/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-xgf2-vxv2-rrmg"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-32056"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/c2c7114ed39a547ab6276e1e933029b9530ee906"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-remote-code-execution-via-shell-startup-environment-variable-injection-in-system-run"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-15", "CWE-78" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-03-03T22:12:51Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}