GHSA-796m-2973-wc5q json
OpenClaw has exec allowlist/safeBins policy-runtime mismatch via env -S wrapper interpretation
published 8mo ago modified 8mo ago
- cvss
- —
- not scored
- cisa kev
- Not listed
- not in CISA's catalog
- epss
- —
- no score, EPSS covers CVEs only
- public exploits
- 0
- none known
Summary
### Summary `tools.exec` allowlist/safe-bins evaluation could diverge from runtime execution for wrapper commands using GNU `env -S/--split-string` semantics. This allowed policy checks to treat a command as a benign safe-bin invocation while runtime executed a different payload.
### Affected Packages / Versions - Package: `openclaw` (npm) - Vulnerable versions: `<= 2026.2.22-2` (latest currently published npm version) - Patched version (released): `2026.2.23`
### Impact An attacker able to influence tool command text (for example via untrusted prompt/content injection reaching an exec-capable flow) could bypass allowlist/safe-bins intent and execute unexpected commands.
### Technical Details Root cause was policy/runtime interpretation mismatch for dispatch wrappers: - analysis resolved an effective executable from wrapper-unwrapped argv, - execution could still run original wrapper argv semantics, - safe-bin short-flag handling also allowed unknown short options in clusters.
### Remediation The fix hardens exec approvals to fail closed and enforce analysis/runtime parity: - introduce wrapper execution planning with semantic-wrapper blocking, - carry planned `effectiveArgv` + `policyBlocked` metadata through resolution, - evaluate allowlist/safe-bins against planned argv, - enforce canonical rebuilt shell command from planned argv for allowlist auto-paths, - use planned argv for node-host/mac exec-host invocation paths, - reject unknown short safe-bin flags, - add regression tests for semantic `env` wrappers and parity fixtures.
### Fix Commit(s) - `a1c4bf07c6baad3ef87a0e710fe9aef127b1f606`
### Release Process Note `patched_versions` is pre-set to the released version (`2026.2.23`). Patched in `2026.2.23` and published.
OpenClaw thanks @jiseoung for reporting.
Patch / fix
Is GHSA-796m-2973-wc5q in your dependencies? Fencer shows which of your repositories are affected as soon as an advisory lands, and opens the fix as a pull request.
Check with FencerAffected packages
| ecosystem | package | affected | fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm | openclaw | <2026.2.23 |
2026.2.23 |
Classification
- Weakness
-
- CWE-436 Interpretation Conflict
References
Sources
- GitHub Advisory GHSA-796m-2973-wc5q
- Maintainer advisory GHSA-796m-2973-wc5q
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The maintainers of openclaw/openclaw published their own advisory on GitHub. Reviewed sources take precedence over it.