GHSA-XWW8-GQVH-92X9

OpenClaw exec approvals could show a shortened command in the approval UI while keeping the full original command for execution. For very long commands, an approver could see and approve a benign-looking prefix while a hidden suffix remained part of the command that would run after approval.

This issue affects the approval display and binding for oversized exec commands. It does not make exec available to unauthenticated users, and it does not change OpenClaw's local-first trust model.

Affected configurations

This affects deployments where exec approval is enabled and an authenticated caller can create a pending host exec request with a command long enough to be truncated in the approval view.

Patched Versions

The first stable patched version is 2026.5.18.

Mitigations

Upgrade to [email protected] or later. Before upgrading, avoid approving unusually long exec commands and keep approval capability limited to trusted operators.

An approver could make a decision from incomplete command text. If the hidden suffix contained additional shell operations, those operations could run after the approval was resolved.

The practical impact depends on who can request exec approvals and who is allowed to approve them. The issue is an approval integrity problem: the approval surface did not faithfully represent the command that would execute.

The application does not correctly enforce access controls, allowing a principal to access resources or operations beyond their granted permissions. Typical impact: unauthorized data access or execution of privileged operations.

GHSA-XWW8-GQVH-92X9 has a CVSS score of 8.0 (High). The vector is network-reachable, low privileges required, and user interaction required. 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 (2026.5.18); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.

Kodem intelligence

1. What is GHSA-XWW8-GQVH-92X9? GHSA-XWW8-GQVH-92X9 is a high-severity incorrect authorization vulnerability in openclaw (npm), affecting versions < 2026.5.18. It is fixed in 2026.5.18. The application does not correctly enforce access controls, allowing a principal to access resources or operations beyond their granted permissions.
2. How severe is GHSA-XWW8-GQVH-92X9? GHSA-XWW8-GQVH-92X9 has a CVSS score of 8.0 (High). 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-XWW8-GQVH-92X9? openclaw (npm) versions < 2026.5.18 is affected.
4. Is there a fix for GHSA-XWW8-GQVH-92X9? Yes. GHSA-XWW8-GQVH-92X9 is fixed in 2026.5.18. Upgrade to this version or later.
5. Is GHSA-XWW8-GQVH-92X9 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether GHSA-XWW8-GQVH-92X9 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-XWW8-GQVH-92X9 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-XWW8-GQVH-92X9? Upgrade openclaw to 2026.5.18 or later.