OpenClaw's exec allow-always can be bypassed via unrecognized multiplexer shell wrappers (busybox/toybox sh -c)
Summary
OpenClaw exec approvals could be bypassed in allowlist mode when allow-always was granted through unrecognized multiplexer shell wrappers (notably busybox sh -c and toybox sh -c).
Affected Packages / Versions
- Package:
openclaw(npm) - Affected:
<= 2026.2.22-2 - Latest published vulnerable version at triage time:
2026.2.22-2(checked on February 24, 2026) - Fixed on
main: yes - Patched release:
2026.2.23
Details
Wrapper analysis treated busybox/toybox invocations as non-wrapper commands in this path, so allow-always persisted the wrapper binary path instead of the inner executable. That allowed later arbitrary payloads under the same multiplexer wrapper to satisfy the stored allowlist rule.
The fix hardens wrapper detection and persistence behavior for these multiplexer shell applets so approvals bind to intended inner executables and fail closed when unwrap safety is uncertain.
Fix Commit(s)
a67689a7e3ad494b6637c76235a664322d526f9e
Release Process Note
patched_versions is pre-set to the released version (2026.2.23). This advisory now reflects released fix version 2026.2.23.
OpenClaw thanks @jiseoung for reporting.
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm package | openclaw | < 2026.2.23 | 2026.2.23 |
References
- CVSS vector
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-184- Platform
- npm
- Package
openclaw- Disclosed
- 02.03.2026
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-gwqp-86q6-w47g - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: openclaw
All published vulnerabilities of this package (npm package), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 588
- First → latest
- 02.2026 07.2026
- Without a fix
- 9
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Critical 20
- High 215
- Medium 299
- Low 54
Disclosures per year
- 2026: 588
-
OpenClaw's exec allow-always can be bypassed via unrecognized multiplexer shell wrappers (busybox/toybox sh -c) this entry
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