GHSA-5H2C-8V84-QPVR

OpenClaw shell-env fallback trusted startup env and could execute attacker-influenced login-shell paths

• 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.

Untrusted input reaches a shell command, allowing arbitrary commands to run on the host. Typical impact: code execution in the application's environment.

GHSA-5H2C-8V84-QPVR has a CVSS score of 5.3 (Medium). The vector is requires local access, low privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. A fixed version is available (2026.2.22); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.

Kodem intelligence

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.

1. What is GHSA-5H2C-8V84-QPVR? GHSA-5H2C-8V84-QPVR is a medium-severity OS command injection vulnerability in openclaw (npm), affecting versions < 2026.2.22. It is fixed in 2026.2.22. Untrusted input reaches a shell command, allowing arbitrary commands to run on the host.
2. How severe is GHSA-5H2C-8V84-QPVR? GHSA-5H2C-8V84-QPVR has a CVSS score of 5.3 (Medium). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
3. Which versions of openclaw are affected by GHSA-5H2C-8V84-QPVR? openclaw (npm) versions < 2026.2.22 is affected.
4. Is there a fix for GHSA-5H2C-8V84-QPVR? Yes. GHSA-5H2C-8V84-QPVR is fixed in 2026.2.22. Upgrade to this version or later.
5. Is GHSA-5H2C-8V84-QPVR exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether GHSA-5H2C-8V84-QPVR is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
6. What actually determines whether GHSA-5H2C-8V84-QPVR is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
7. How do I fix GHSA-5H2C-8V84-QPVR? Upgrade openclaw to 2026.2.22 or later.