Summary
OpenClaw has exec allowlist/safeBins policy-runtime mismatch via env -S wrapper interpretation
tools.exec allowlist/safe-bins evaluation could diverge from runtime execution for wrapper commands using GNU env -S/--split-string semantics. This allowed policy checks to treat a command as a benign safe-bin invocation while runtime executed a different payload.
Affected Packages / Versions
- Package:
openclaw(npm) - Vulnerable versions:
<= 2026.2.22-2(latest currently published npm version) - Patched version (released):
2026.2.23
Technical Details
Root cause was policy/runtime interpretation mismatch for dispatch wrappers:
- analysis resolved an effective executable from wrapper-unwrapped argv,
- execution could still run original wrapper argv semantics,
- safe-bin short-flag handling also allowed unknown short options in clusters.
Fix Commit(s)
a1c4bf07c6baad3ef87a0e710fe9aef127b1f606
Release Process Note
patched_versions is pre-set to the released version (2026.2.23). Patched in 2026.2.23 and published.
OpenClaw thanks @jiseoung for reporting.
Impact
An attacker able to influence tool command text (for example via untrusted prompt/content injection reaching an exec-capable flow) could bypass allowlist/safe-bins intent and execute unexpected commands.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
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. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
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The fix hardens exec approvals to fail closed and enforce analysis/runtime parity:
- introduce wrapper execution planning with semantic-wrapper blocking,
- carry planned
effectiveArgv+policyBlockedmetadata through resolution, - evaluate allowlist/safe-bins against planned argv,
- enforce canonical rebuilt shell command from planned argv for allowlist auto-paths,
- use planned argv for node-host/mac exec-host invocation paths,
- reject unknown short safe-bin flags,
- add regression tests for semantic
envwrappers and parity fixtures.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is GHSA-796M-2973-WC5Q? GHSA-796M-2973-WC5Q is a medium-severity security vulnerability in openclaw (npm), affecting versions < 2026.2.23. It is fixed in 2026.2.23.
- Which versions of openclaw are affected by GHSA-796M-2973-WC5Q? openclaw (npm) versions < 2026.2.23 is affected.
- Is there a fix for GHSA-796M-2973-WC5Q? Yes. GHSA-796M-2973-WC5Q is fixed in 2026.2.23. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is GHSA-796M-2973-WC5Q exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether GHSA-796M-2973-WC5Q 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
- What actually determines whether GHSA-796M-2973-WC5Q 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.
- How do I fix GHSA-796M-2973-WC5Q? Upgrade
openclawto 2026.2.23 or later.