CVE-2026-31997: OpenClaw System.run Approvals Did Not Bind Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-q399-23r3-hfx4
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CWE-426 CWE-367
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-31997 is a HIGH system.run approvals did not bind vulnerability (CWE-426: Untrusted Search Path) affecting OpenClaw libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves system.run approvals did not bind path-token executable identity, enabling post-approval executable rebind. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2026.3.1.

CVE-2026-31997 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-31997
GHSA Identifier GHSA-q399-23r3-hfx4
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-426: Untrusted Search Path
Affected Product OpenClaw
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2026-31997

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: 2026.3.1 
npm install openclaw@2026.3.1
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-2026-31997, 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 2026.3.1), 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-426: Untrusted Search Path, where the product searches for critical resources using an externally-supplied search path that can point to resources that are not under the product's direct control. 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 For `host=node` runs, approvals validated command context but did not pin executable identity for non-path-like `argv[0]` tokens (for example `tr`). If PATH resolution changed after approval, execution could run a different binary. ### Impact A previously approved action could execute a different executable than the operator approved. ### Fix Node `system.run` approvals now require immutable `systemRunPlan` data, and path-token commands are pinned to canonical executable identity (`realpath`) across approval and execution. ### Affected and Patched Versions - Affected: `<= 2026.2.26` - Patched: `2026.3.1`

CVE-2026-31997 Affected OpenClaw Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2026.3.1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
openclaw
npm/openclaw
npm
< 2026.3.1
2026.3.1

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-q399-23r3-hfx4
NVD — CVE-2026-31997 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-31997
OpenClaw Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw
www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw... WEB
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-executable-rebind-via-unbound-path-token-in-system-run-approvals

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-31997?
CVE-2026-31997 is a security vulnerability in OpenClaw involving system.run approvals did not bind PATH-token executable identity, enabling post-approval executable rebind under CWE-426: Untrusted Search Path.
Which OpenClaw versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2026.3.1 across affected packages: openclaw.
What version fixes CVE-2026-31997?
Upgrading to 2026.3.1 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is openclaw affected?
Yes, openclaw is affected in releases prior to 2026.3.1. Upgrade your dependency to 2026.3.1 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-31997?
CVE-2026-31997 is classified under CWE-426: Untrusted Search Path (The product searches for critical resources using an externally-supplied search path that can point to resources that are not under the product's direct control.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2026-31997?
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-q399-23r3-hfx4",
  "modified" : "2026-03-19T21:22:35Z",
  "published" : "2026-03-02T22:03:29Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-31997" ],
  "summary" : "OpenClaw: system.run approvals did not bind PATH-token executable identity, enabling post-approval executable rebind",
  "details" : "### Summary\nFor `host=node` runs, approvals validated command context but did not pin executable identity for non-path-like `argv[0]` tokens (for example `tr`). If PATH resolution changed after approval, execution could run a different binary.\n\n### Impact\nA previously approved action could execute a different executable than the operator approved.\n\n### Fix\nNode `system.run` approvals now require immutable `systemRunPlan` data, and path-token commands are pinned to canonical executable identity (`realpath`) across approval and execution.\n\n### Affected and Patched Versions\n- Affected: `<= 2026.2.26`\n- Patched: `2026.3.1`",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "openclaw"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2026.3.1"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-q399-23r3-hfx4"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-31997"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-executable-rebind-via-unbound-path-token-in-system-run-approvals"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-367", "CWE-426" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-03-02T22:03:29Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}