OpenClaw's system.run approval TOCTOU via mutable symlink cwd target on node host
Summary
In openclaw@2026.2.24, approval-bound system.run on node hosts could be influenced by mutable symlink cwd targets between approval and execution.
Details
Approval matching on the gateway validated command/argv and binding fields, including cwd, as provided text. Node execution later used runtime cwd resolution. A symlinked cwd could therefore be retargeted after approval and before spawn.
OpenClaw's trust model does not treat one shared gateway as a multi-tenant adversarial boundary, but approval integrity is still a security boundary for operator-reviewed command execution.
Affected Packages / Versions
- Package:
openclaw(npm) - Affected:
<= 2026.2.24 - Patched:
>= 2026.2.25
Fix Commit(s)
f789f880c934caa8be25b38832f27f90f37903db
Remediation
The fix adds defense-in-depth hardening for approval-bound node execution:
- reject symlink
cwdpaths for approval-boundsystem.run - canonicalize path-like executable argv before spawn
- bind CLI approval requests to exact
commandArgv
Release Process Note
Patched version is pre-set to the release (2026.2.25). Advisory published with npm release 2026.2.25.
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 | < 2026.2.25 | 2026.2.25 |
References
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-mwcg-wfq3-4gjc
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-32043
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/f789f880c934caa8be25b38832f27f90f37903db
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-time-of-check-time-of-use-via-mutable-symlink-in-system-run-cwd-parameter
- CVSS vector
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-367, CWE-59- Platform
- npm
- Package
openclaw- Disclosed
- 03.03.2026
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-mwcg-wfq3-4gjc - 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
- 589
- First → latest
- 02.2026 10.2026
- Without a fix
- 9
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Critical 20
- High 215
- Medium 300
- Low 54
Disclosures per year
- 2026: 589
-
OpenClaw's system.run approval TOCTOU via mutable symlink cwd target on node host this entry
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