OpenClaw has allowlist exec-guard bypass via env -S
Summary
In allowlist mode, system.run guardrails could be bypassed through env -S, causing policy-analysis/runtime-execution mismatch for shell wrapper payloads.
Severity Rationale (Medium)
This issue is rated medium because it is a guardrail/policy bypass in OpenClaw's trusted-operator model, not an authentication boundary break.
- Authenticated Gateway callers are trusted operators by design.
execapprovals/allowlists are operator safety controls.- The bug still weakens expected safety behavior and can enable unintended command execution when untrusted content influences tool input.
Affected Packages / Versions
- Package:
openclaw(npm) - Vulnerable versions:
<= 2026.2.22-2 - Patched versions:
>= 2026.2.23
Latest published npm version checked during triage: 2026.2.22-2.
Technical Impact
When /usr/bin/env is allowlisted, env -S 'sh -c ...' could be treated as allowed non-wrapper argv while runtime still executes shell-wrapper semantics.
Fix Commit(s)
a1c4bf07c6baad3ef87a0e710fe9aef127b1f606(core allowlist/runtime parity hardening)3f923e831364d83d0f23499ee49961de334cf58b(explicitenv -Sregressions)
Release Process Note
patched_versions is pre-set to >= 2026.2.23, so this advisory is now public.
OpenClaw thanks @tdjackey 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
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-48wf-g7cp-gr3m
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-31992
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/3f923e831364d83d0f23499ee49961de334cf58b
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/a1c4bf07c6baad3ef87a0e710fe9aef127b1f606
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-allowlist-exec-guard-bypass-via-env-s
- CVSS vector
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-184, CWE-193- Platform
- npm
- Package
openclaw- Disclosed
- 03.03.2026
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-48wf-g7cp-gr3m - 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 has allowlist exec-guard bypass via env -S this entry
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