Summary
OpenClaw plugin runtime command execution is part of trusted plugin boundary
OpenClaw plugins/extensions run in-process and are treated as trusted code. This advisory tracks trust-boundary clarification around plugin runtime command execution (runtime.system.runCommandWithTimeout).
Affected Packages / Versions
- Package:
openclaw(npm) - Latest published version reviewed:
2026.2.17 - Affected range for this advisory record:
<= 2026.2.17 - Planned patched version metadata:
2026.2.19(next release line)
Fix Commit(s)
2e421f32dfc589c02706265fd3c3137ffc06c4b1
Impact
Plugins already execute with the same OS privileges as the OpenClaw process. Exposing runtime command helpers does not cross an additional sandbox boundary.
Untrusted input reaches a shell command, allowing arbitrary commands to run on the host. Typical impact: code execution in the application's environment.
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.
Already deployed Kodem?
See it in your environmentNew to Kodem? Get a demo →Remediation advice
- Install only trusted plugins.
- Use
plugins.allowto pin explicit trusted plugin IDs. - SECURITY.md now explicitly documents that plugin runtime helpers are convenience APIs, not a sandbox boundary.
OpenClaw thanks @markmusson for reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is GHSA-FF98-W8HJ-QRXF? GHSA-FF98-W8HJ-QRXF is a medium-severity OS command injection vulnerability in openclaw (npm), affecting versions < 2026.2.19. It is fixed in 2026.2.19. Untrusted input reaches a shell command, allowing arbitrary commands to run on the host.
- Which versions of openclaw are affected by GHSA-FF98-W8HJ-QRXF? openclaw (npm) versions < 2026.2.19 is affected.
- Is there a fix for GHSA-FF98-W8HJ-QRXF? Yes. GHSA-FF98-W8HJ-QRXF is fixed in 2026.2.19. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is GHSA-FF98-W8HJ-QRXF exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether GHSA-FF98-W8HJ-QRXF 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-FF98-W8HJ-QRXF 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-FF98-W8HJ-QRXF? Upgrade
openclawto 2026.2.19 or later.