Staging Environment: Content and features may be unstable or change without notice.
Advisory details: github_osv / GHSA-5h2c-8v84-qpvr
Advisory ID github_osv/GHSA-5h2c-8v84-qpvr
Aliases
Summary 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: `>= 2026.1.5` and `<= 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: 1. `src/infra/shell-env.ts` - `resolveShell(env)` trusted `env.SHELL` when set. - `execLoginShellEnvZero(...)` executed `${SHELL} -l -c "env -0"` with inherited runtime env. 2. `src/config/io.ts` - Config env values were applied before shell fallback execution. 3. `src/config/env-vars.ts` / env policy coverage - `SHELL` handling 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`, and `ZDOTDIR` during config env ingestion used by runtime fallback, - sanitizes shell fallback execution env, pinning `HOME` to the real user home and dropping `ZDOTDIR` + 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.
Status Published
Exploitability 0.5
Weighted Severity 4.8
Risk 2.4
Affected and Fixed Packages Package Details
Introduced and Fixed Package Commit Patches Package Commit Patches Details
Weaknesses (2)
CWE-78 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
CWE-15 External Control of System or Configuration Setting
System Score Found at
cvssv3.1 5.3 https://github.com/github/advisory-database/blob/main/advisories/github-reviewed/2026/03/GHSA-5h2c-8v84-qpvr/GHSA-5h2c-8v84-qpvr.json
generic_textual MODERATE
Reference id Reference type URL
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/9363c320d8ffe29290906752fab92621da02c3f7
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-5h2c-8v84-qpvr
No exploits are available.

No EPSS data available for this advisory.

Patch URL
There are no known patches.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L Found at https://github.com/github/advisory-database/blob/main/advisories/github-reviewed/2026/03/GHSA-5h2c-8v84-qpvr/GHSA-5h2c-8v84-qpvr.json
Attack Vector (AV) Attack Complexity (AC) Privileges Required (PR) User Interaction (UI) Scope (S) Confidentiality Impact (C) Integrity Impact (I) Availability Impact (A)

network

adjacent_network

local

physical

low

high

none

low

high

none

required

unchanged

changed

high

low

none

high

low

none

high

low

none

There are no SSVC decisions available.