OpenClaw has Windows system.run approval mismatch on cmd.exe /c trailing arguments

Exploitation

No confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next marks exploitation only from CISA KEV.

CVSS 4.0

8.5 · CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N · score source

EPSS

• CVE-2026-22168: 0.42% estimated exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 36.58 (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-03). This is a model estimate, not proof of exploitation or customer exposure.

As published by the source; long descriptions are shortened.

Summary A Windows system.run approval-integrity mismatch in the cmd.exe /c path could allow trailing arguments to execute while approval/audit text reflected only a benign command string. This requires an authenticated operator context using the approvals flow and a trusted Windows node. Affected Packages / Versions - Package: openclaw (npm) - Latest published vulnerable version (as of 2026-02-21): 2026.2.19-2 - Vulnerable range: <=2026.2.19-2 - Patched version (planned next release): 2026.2.21 Attack Scenario 1. An authenticated operator approval is created for a benign command text (for example, echo). 2. A system.run request uses cmd.exe /c with extra trailing arguments. 3. Prior behavior could bind approval/audit text to the benign command while still executing the full argument tail on the node. Impact - Local command execution on the trusted Windows node process account. - Approval/audit command text integrity mismatch. Fix - Canonicalize the full command tail after cmd.exe /c.…

Published by the source

2 Mar 2026, 22:15 UTC

Last modified by the source

19 Mar 2026, 21:32 UTC

Source last checked

26 Oct 2026, 12:46 UTC

1. Revision 3 · amended · 26 Oct 2026

   Amended from ghsa record GHSA-5v6x-rfc3-7qfr

2. Revision 2 · amended · 24 Oct 2026

   Reviewed OSV alias/range/CVSS4 correction; package source scopes and original publication preserved. No customer finding resolved.

3. Revision 1 · created · 24 Oct 2026

   Published from osv record GHSA-5v6x-rfc3-7qfr

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# Patch Next advisory brief: CVE-2026-22168

Advisory: OpenClaw has Windows system.run approval mismatch on cmd.exe /c trailing arguments
IDs: CVE-2026-22168, GHSA-5v6x-rfc3-7qfr
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/cve-2026-22168 (revision 3, source checked 26 Oct 2026, 12:46 UTC)
Inventory: none attached. This brief comes from a public page and does not say whether any deployment is affected.
Severity: High (CVSS 8.5)
Exploitation: no confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next confirms exploitation only from CISA KEV.
Vendor response: Vendor fix available; fixed versions by package: openclaw 2026.2.21. A vendor fix does not mean a deployment is fixed.

## Affected components
- npm openclaw: affected < 2026.2.21; fixed in 2026.2.21

## Suggested inspection (read-only)
- `npm ls openclaw --all`: lists every installed copy and version, including transitive ones. Run in the project root after `npm ci`.

## Supported action
Upgrade each affected component to a fixed version on its release line. For a transitive dependency, upgrade the parent package or add an override or constraint, then regenerate the lockfile. Redeploy every environment that ran an affected version.

## Required regression checks
- Run the test suite and a production build.
- Exercise the features that depend on openclaw.
- Repeat the inspection and confirm that only fixed versions remain installed.

## Rollback considerations
- Keep the previous lockfile and deployment artifact. Rolling back reinstates the vulnerable version, so apply any documented mitigation while you fix forward.

## Unresolved questions
- Which deployments run an affected version?
- Exploitation status can change. Check again before lowering the priority.
- Mark the work resolved only after the fixed version is verified in production.

## Sources
- Verified: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-5v6x-rfc3-7qfr (OSV record GHSA-5v6x-rfc3-7qfr lists affected ranges: npm openclaw >=0 <2026.2.21 (fixed))
- Verified: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-5v6x-rfc3-7qfr (GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-5v6x-rfc3-7qfr lists affected ranges: npm openclaw >=0 <2026.2.21)

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