GHSA-5V6X-RFC3-7QFR

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-03-02 22:15 – Updated: 2026-03-19 21:20
VLAI?
Summary
OpenClaw has Windows system.run approval mismatch on cmd.exe /c trailing arguments
Details

Summary

A Windows system.run approval-integrity mismatch in the cmd.exe /c path could allow trailing arguments to execute while approval/audit text reflected only a benign command string.

This requires an authenticated operator context using the approvals flow and a trusted Windows node.

Affected Packages / Versions

  • Package: openclaw (npm)
  • Latest published vulnerable version (as of 2026-02-21): 2026.2.19-2
  • Vulnerable range: <=2026.2.19-2
  • Patched version (planned next release): 2026.2.21

Attack Scenario

  1. An authenticated operator approval is created for a benign command text (for example, echo).
  2. A system.run request uses cmd.exe /c with extra trailing arguments.
  3. Prior behavior could bind approval/audit text to the benign command while still executing the full argument tail on the node.

Impact

  • Local command execution on the trusted Windows node process account.
  • Approval/audit command text integrity mismatch.

Fix

  • Canonicalize the full command tail after cmd.exe /c.
  • Reuse one shared command canonicalization/validation path for validation, approval matching, and execution/audit text.
  • Add regression coverage for trailing-argument smuggling and approval binding.

Fix Commit(s)

  • 6007941f04df1edcca679dd6c95949744fdbd4df

Release Process Note

patched_versions is pre-set to the planned next release (2026.2.21). Once that npm release is live, this advisory can be published directly.

OpenClaw thanks @tdjackey for reporting.

Severity ?
8.5 (High)
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
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{
  "affected": [
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "npm",
        "name": "openclaw"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "2026.2.21"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2026-22168"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-863",
      "CWE-88"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": true,
    "github_reviewed_at": "2026-03-02T22:15:53Z",
    "nvd_published_at": "2026-03-18T02:16:20Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "### Summary\nA Windows `system.run` approval-integrity mismatch in the `cmd.exe /c` path could allow trailing arguments to execute while approval/audit text reflected only a benign command string.\n\nThis requires an authenticated operator context using the approvals flow and a trusted Windows node.\n\n### Affected Packages / Versions\n- Package: `openclaw` (npm)\n- Latest published vulnerable version (as of 2026-02-21): `2026.2.19-2`\n- Vulnerable range: `\u003c=2026.2.19-2`\n- Patched version (planned next release): `2026.2.21`\n\n### Attack Scenario\n1. An authenticated operator approval is created for a benign command text (for example, `echo`).\n2. A `system.run` request uses `cmd.exe /c` with extra trailing arguments.\n3. Prior behavior could bind approval/audit text to the benign command while still executing the full argument tail on the node.\n\n### Impact\n- Local command execution on the trusted Windows node process account.\n- Approval/audit command text integrity mismatch.\n\n### Fix\n- Canonicalize the full command tail after `cmd.exe /c`.\n- Reuse one shared command canonicalization/validation path for validation, approval matching, and execution/audit text.\n- Add regression coverage for trailing-argument smuggling and approval binding.\n\n### Fix Commit(s)\n- `6007941f04df1edcca679dd6c95949744fdbd4df`\n\n### Release Process Note\n`patched_versions` is pre-set to the planned next release (`2026.2.21`). Once that npm release is live, this advisory can be published directly.\n\nOpenClaw thanks @tdjackey for reporting.",
  "id": "GHSA-5v6x-rfc3-7qfr",
  "modified": "2026-03-19T21:20:03Z",
  "published": "2026-03-02T22:15:53Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-5v6x-rfc3-7qfr"
    },
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-22168"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/6007941f04df1edcca679dd6c95949744fdbd4df"
    },
    {
      "type": "PACKAGE",
      "url": "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-command-injection-via-cmd-exe-c-trailing-arguments-in-system-run"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N",
      "type": "CVSS_V4"
    }
  ],
  "summary": "OpenClaw has Windows system.run approval mismatch on cmd.exe /c trailing arguments"
}


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  • Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.



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