OpenClaw shell-env fallback trusted startup env and could execute attacker-influenced login-shell paths
Summary
OpenClaw shell-env fallback trusted startup environment values and could execute attacker-influenced login-shell startup paths before loading env keys.
Affected Packages / Versions
- Package:
openclaw(npm) - Affected versions:
>= 2026.1.5and<= 2026.2.21-2 - Fixed on
main:9363c320d8ffe29290906752fab92621da02c3f7 - Planned patched release version (pre-set):
2026.2.22
Details
The vulnerable chain was in the shell-env fallback path:
src/infra/shell-env.ts
resolveShell(env)trustedenv.SHELLwhen set.execLoginShellEnvZero(...)executed${SHELL} -l -c "env -0"with inherited runtime env.
src/config/io.ts
- Config env values were applied before shell fallback execution.
src/config/env-vars.ts/ env policy coverage
SHELLhandling was hardened, but startup-path selectors (HOME,ZDOTDIR) still needed explicit blocking in config env ingestion and sanitization for shell fallback execution.
With env/config influence, this could trigger unintended command execution in shell startup processing on the OpenClaw host process context.
Fix
Mainline hardening now:
- blocks
SHELL,HOME, andZDOTDIRduring config env ingestion used by runtime fallback, - sanitizes shell fallback execution env, pinning
HOMEto the real user home and droppingZDOTDIR+ dangerous startup vars, - adds regression tests for config env ingestion and shell fallback/path-probe sanitization.
Fix Commit(s)
9363c320d8ffe29290906752fab92621da02c3f7
Impact
- Local code-execution risk in environments where attacker-controlled env/config input can reach shell-env fallback.
- Under OpenClaw trust assumptions (
SECURITY.md), this is not a public-remote issue and depends on crossing local trusted-operator boundaries.
Release Process Note
patched_versions is intentionally pre-set to the planned next release (2026.2.22) so once npm release is out, maintainers can publish advisory immediately.
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 | < 2026.2.22 | 2026.2.22 |
References
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-15, CWE-78- Platform
- npm
- Package
openclaw- Disclosed
- 03.03.2026
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-5h2c-8v84-qpvr - 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 shell-env fallback trusted startup env and could execute attacker-influenced login-shell paths this entry
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