Vulnerability-Lookup

GHSA-9P38-94JF-HGJJ

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-03-03 21:41 – Updated: 2026-03-19 18:36

Summary

OpenClaw has macOS `system.run` allowlist bypass via quoted command substitution

Details

Summary

In OpenClaw's macOS node-host path, system.run allowlist parsing in security=allowlist mode failed to reject command substitution tokens when they appeared inside double-quoted shell text.

Because of that gap, payloads like echo "ok $(id)" could be treated as allowlist hits (first executable token echo) while still executing non-allowlisted subcommands through shell substitution.

Affected Packages / Versions

Package: npm openclaw
Latest published affected version: 2026.2.21-2
Affected range: <= 2026.2.21-2
Patched version (planned next release): 2026.2.22

Notes: - Default installs are not affected (security=deny by default). - The issue requires opting into security=allowlist on the macOS node-host path.

Impact

Approval/authorization bypass in allowlist mode that can lead to unintended command execution on the node host.

Preconditions

Target uses macOS node-host / companion-app execution path.
Exec approvals set to security=allowlist.
Ask mode is on-miss or off.
Allowlist contains a benign executable used in a shell wrapper flow (for example /bin/echo).

Reproduction (example)

Use a shell-wrapper command where the visible executable is allowlisted but the quoted payload contains substitution:

command argv: /bin/sh -lc 'echo "ok $(/usr/bin/id > /tmp/openclaw-poc-rce)"'
allowlist pattern includes /bin/echo

Before the fix, allowlist analysis could resolve this as allowlisted while shell substitution still executed.

Remediation

Upgrade to 2026.2.22 (or newer) when released.
Temporary mitigation: set ask mode to always or set security mode to deny.

Fix Commit(s)

90a378ca3a9ecbf1634cd247f17a35f4612c6ca6

Release Process Note

patched_versions is pre-set to planned next release 2026.2.22. After npm release is out, advisory can be published directly.

OpenClaw thanks @tdjackey for reporting.

Severity ?

7.5 (High)


                  
                    CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Show details on source website

JSON

To clipboard

{
  "affected": [
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "npm",
        "name": "openclaw"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "2026.2.22"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2026-22179"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-78"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": true,
    "github_reviewed_at": "2026-03-03T21:41:12Z",
    "nvd_published_at": "2026-03-18T02:16:22Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "### Summary\nIn OpenClaw\u0027s macOS node-host path, `system.run` allowlist parsing in `security=allowlist` mode failed to reject command substitution tokens when they appeared inside double-quoted shell text.\n\nBecause of that gap, payloads like `echo \"ok $(id)\"` could be treated as allowlist hits (first executable token `echo`) while still executing non-allowlisted subcommands through shell substitution.\n\n### Affected Packages / Versions\n- Package: npm `openclaw`\n- Latest published affected version: `2026.2.21-2`\n- Affected range: `\u003c= 2026.2.21-2`\n- Patched version (planned next release): `2026.2.22`\n\nNotes:\n- Default installs are not affected (`security=deny` by default).\n- The issue requires opting into `security=allowlist` on the macOS node-host path.\n\n### Impact\nApproval/authorization bypass in allowlist mode that can lead to unintended command execution on the node host.\n\n### Preconditions\n- Target uses macOS node-host / companion-app execution path.\n- Exec approvals set to `security=allowlist`.\n- Ask mode is `on-miss` or `off`.\n- Allowlist contains a benign executable used in a shell wrapper flow (for example `/bin/echo`).\n\n### Reproduction (example)\nUse a shell-wrapper command where the visible executable is allowlisted but the quoted payload contains substitution:\n\n- command argv: `/bin/sh -lc \u0027echo \"ok $(/usr/bin/id \u003e /tmp/openclaw-poc-rce)\"\u0027`\n- allowlist pattern includes `/bin/echo`\n\nBefore the fix, allowlist analysis could resolve this as allowlisted while shell substitution still executed.\n\n### Remediation\n- Upgrade to `2026.2.22` (or newer) when released.\n- Temporary mitigation: set ask mode to `always` or set security mode to `deny`.\n\n### Fix Commit(s)\n- `90a378ca3a9ecbf1634cd247f17a35f4612c6ca6`\n\n### Release Process Note\n`patched_versions` is pre-set to planned next release `2026.2.22`. After npm release is out, advisory can be published directly.\n\nOpenClaw thanks @tdjackey for reporting.",
  "id": "GHSA-9p38-94jf-hgjj",
  "modified": "2026-03-19T18:36:18Z",
  "published": "2026-03-03T21:41:12Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-9p38-94jf-hgjj"
    },
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-22179"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/90a378ca3a9ecbf1634cd247f17a35f4612c6ca6"
    },
    {
      "type": "PACKAGE",
      "url": "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-allowlist-bypass-via-command-substitution-in-system-run"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N",
      "type": "CVSS_V4"
    }
  ],
  "summary": "OpenClaw has macOS `system.run` allowlist bypass via quoted command substitution"
}

CVE-2026-22179 (GCVE-0-2026-22179)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2026-03-18 01:34 – Updated: 2026-03-25 14:32 X_Open Source

Title

OpenClaw < 2026.2.22 - Allowlist Bypass via Command Substitution in system.run

Summary

OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.22 in macOS node-host system.run contain an allowlist bypass vulnerability that allows remote attackers to execute non-allowlisted commands by exploiting improper parsing of command substitution tokens. Attackers can craft shell payloads with command substitution syntax within double-quoted text to bypass security restrictions and execute arbitrary commands on the system.

Severity ?

7.5 (High)


                        
                          CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

7.2 (High)


                        
                          CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CWE

CWE-78 - Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') (CWE-78)

Assigner

VulnCheck

References

URL

Tags

	https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/adv…	third-party-advisory
	https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/90a37…	patch
	https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-all…	third-party-advisory

Impacted products

	Vendor	Product	Version
	OpenClaw	OpenClaw	Affected: 0 , < 2026.2.22 (semver) Unaffected: 2026.2.22 (semver)

Date Public ?

2026-02-23 00:00

Credits

tdjackey

Show details on NVD website

JSON

To clipboard

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Sightings

Author	Source	Type	Date

Nomenclature

Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.

Detection rules are retrieved from Rulezet.

Action not permitted

GHSA-9P38-94JF-HGJJ

Summary

Affected Packages / Versions

Impact

Preconditions

Reproduction (example)

Remediation

Fix Commit(s)

Release Process Note

CVE-2026-22179 (GCVE-0-2026-22179)

Tags

Sightings

Nomenclature