CVE-2026-22169: Openclaw OpenClaw's Non-default SafeBins Sort Configuration Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-vmqr-rc7x-3446
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CVSS 6.4
CWE-15 CWE-78
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-22169 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.4) openclaw's non-default safebins sort configuration vulnerability (CWE-15: External Control of System or Configuration Setting) affecting Openclaw libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves openclaw's non-default safebins sort configuration can bypass intended allowlist approval constraints. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2026.2.22.

CVE-2026-22169 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-22169
GHSA Identifier GHSA-vmqr-rc7x-3446
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.4
CWE Classification CWE-15: External Control of System or Configuration Setting
Affected Product Openclaw
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.4

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

Attack Vector Local (AV:L)
Attack Complexity High (AC:H)
Privileges Required High (PR:H)
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-2026-22169

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-2026-22169, 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

When `sort` is explicitly added to `tools.exec.safeBins` (non-default), the `--compress-program` option can invoke an external helper and bypass the intended safe-bin approval constraints in allowlist mode. ## Affected Packages / Versions - Package: `openclaw` (npm) - Vulnerable versions: `<=2026.2.21-2` - Latest published npm version checked during triage: `2026.2.21-2` (as of February 22, 2026) - Patched in planned next release: `2026.2.22` ## Fix Commit(s) - `57fbbaebca4d34d17549accf6092ae26eb7b605c` ## Release Process Note `patched_versions` is pre-set to the planned next release (`>=2026.2.22`). Once that npm release is published, the advisory can be published directly. OpenClaw thanks @tdjackey for reporting.

CVE-2026-22169 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-vmqr-rc7x-3446
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/57fbbaebca4d34d17549accf6092ae26eb7b605c
Openclaw Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-22169?
CVE-2026-22169 is a security vulnerability in Openclaw involving OpenClaw's non-default safeBins sort configuration can bypass intended allowlist approval constraints 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-2026-22169?
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-2026-22169?
CVE-2026-22169 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.4 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-22169?
CVE-2026-22169 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-2026-22169?
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-vmqr-rc7x-3446",
  "modified" : "2026-03-18T01:24:57Z",
  "published" : "2026-03-03T18:54:55Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-22169" ],
  "summary" : "OpenClaw's non-default safeBins sort configuration can bypass intended allowlist approval constraints",
  "details" : "When `sort` is explicitly added to `tools.exec.safeBins` (non-default), the `--compress-program` option can invoke an external helper and bypass the intended safe-bin approval constraints in allowlist mode.\n\n## Affected Packages / Versions\n\n- Package: `openclaw` (npm)\n- Vulnerable versions: `<=2026.2.21-2`\n- Latest published npm version checked during triage: `2026.2.21-2` (as of February 22, 2026)\n- Patched in planned next release: `2026.2.22`\n\n## Fix Commit(s)\n\n- `57fbbaebca4d34d17549accf6092ae26eb7b605c`\n\n## Release Process Note\n\n`patched_versions` is pre-set to the planned next release (`>=2026.2.22`). Once that npm release is published, the advisory can be published directly.\n\nOpenClaw thanks @tdjackey for reporting.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "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-vmqr-rc7x-3446"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/57fbbaebca4d34d17549accf6092ae26eb7b605c"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-15", "CWE-78" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-03-03T18:54:55Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}