Summary
OpenClaw: Bundle MCP loopback could miss its exec denylist on session spawn
Bundle MCP loopback could miss its exec denylist on session spawn. In affected versions, a caller that can reach the affected bundled MCP session-spawn path could bypass the denylist that was intended for that loopback MCP entry point.
This advisory is scoped to the named feature and configuration. It does not change OpenClaw's trusted-operator model: authenticated Gateway operators, installed plugins, and intentional local execution surfaces remain trusted unless a separate policy, approval, allowlist, sandbox, or auth boundary is crossed.
Patched Versions
The first stable patched version is 2026.5.12.
Mitigations
restrict bundled MCP loopback access to trusted operators until patched. As general hardening, keep channel and tool allowlists narrow, avoid sharing one Gateway between mutually untrusted users, and disable the affected feature when it is not needed.
Impact
When the affected feature is enabled and reachable, this could start a session with broader command reach than that MCP path should provide. Practical impact depends on the operator's configuration and whether lower-trust input can reach that path.
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.
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Kodem Kai can prioritize this vulnerability in your dependency tree and generate a fix recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is GHSA-QH2F-99MV-MRCF? GHSA-QH2F-99MV-MRCF is a medium-severity OS command injection vulnerability in openclaw (npm), affecting versions < 2026.5.12. It is fixed in 2026.5.12. Untrusted input reaches a shell command, allowing arbitrary commands to run on the host.
- Which versions of openclaw are affected by GHSA-QH2F-99MV-MRCF? openclaw (npm) versions < 2026.5.12 is affected.
- Is there a fix for GHSA-QH2F-99MV-MRCF? Yes. GHSA-QH2F-99MV-MRCF is fixed in 2026.5.12. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is GHSA-QH2F-99MV-MRCF exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether GHSA-QH2F-99MV-MRCF 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-QH2F-99MV-MRCF 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-QH2F-99MV-MRCF? Upgrade
openclawto 2026.5.12 or later.