OpenClaw's shell startup env injection bypasses system.run allowlist intent (RCE class)

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.