GHSA-F8MP-VJ46-CQ8V
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-03-03 19:52 – Updated: 2026-03-25 18:44
VLAI?
Summary
OpenClaw's shell env fallback trusts unvalidated SHELL path from host environment
Details
The shell environment fallback path could invoke an attacker-controlled shell when SHELL was inherited from an untrusted host environment. In affected builds, shell-env loading used $SHELL -l -c 'env -0' without validating that SHELL points to a trusted executable.
In threat-model terms, this requires local environment compromise or untrusted startup environment injection first; it is not a remote pre-auth path. The hardening patch validates SHELL as an absolute normalized executable, prefers /etc/shells, applies trusted-prefix fallback checks, and falls back safely to /bin/sh when validation fails. The dangerous env-var policy now also blocks SHELL overrides.
Affected Packages / Versions
- Package:
openclaw(npm) - Affected versions:
<= 2026.2.21-2 - Latest published vulnerable version:
2026.2.21-2 - Patched versions (planned next release):
>= 2026.2.22
Fix Commit(s)
25e89cc86338ef475d26be043aa541dfdb95e52a
Release Process Note
The advisory pre-sets patched_versions to the planned next release (2026.2.22). After that npm release is published, maintainers can publish this advisory without further version-field edits.
OpenClaw thanks @athuljayaram for reporting.
Severity ?
{
"affected": [
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "npm",
"name": "openclaw"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "2026.2.22"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-32032"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-426",
"CWE-78"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2026-03-03T19:52:45Z",
"nvd_published_at": "2026-03-19T22:16:38Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "The shell environment fallback path could invoke an attacker-controlled shell when `SHELL` was inherited from an untrusted host environment. In affected builds, shell-env loading used `$SHELL -l -c \u0027env -0\u0027` without validating that `SHELL` points to a trusted executable.\n\nIn threat-model terms, this requires local environment compromise or untrusted startup environment injection first; it is not a remote pre-auth path. The hardening patch validates `SHELL` as an absolute normalized executable, prefers `/etc/shells`, applies trusted-prefix fallback checks, and falls back safely to `/bin/sh` when validation fails. The dangerous env-var policy now also blocks `SHELL` overrides.\n\n## Affected Packages / Versions\n- Package: `openclaw` (npm)\n- Affected versions: `\u003c= 2026.2.21-2`\n- Latest published vulnerable version: `2026.2.21-2`\n- Patched versions (planned next release): `\u003e= 2026.2.22`\n\n## Fix Commit(s)\n- `25e89cc86338ef475d26be043aa541dfdb95e52a`\n\n## Release Process Note\nThe advisory pre-sets `patched_versions` to the planned next release (`2026.2.22`). After that npm release is published, maintainers can publish this advisory without further version-field edits.\n\nOpenClaw thanks @athuljayaram for reporting.",
"id": "GHSA-f8mp-vj46-cq8v",
"modified": "2026-03-25T18:44:27Z",
"published": "2026-03-03T19:52:45Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-f8mp-vj46-cq8v"
},
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-32032"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/25e89cc86338ef475d26be043aa541dfdb95e52a"
},
{
"type": "PACKAGE",
"url": "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-arbitrary-shell-execution-via-unvalidated-shell-environment-variable"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
},
{
"score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N",
"type": "CVSS_V4"
}
],
"summary": "OpenClaw\u0027s shell env fallback trusts unvalidated SHELL path from host environment"
}
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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.
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