OpenClaw: Command hijacking via unsafe PATH handling (bootstrapping + node-host PATH overrides)

Exploitation

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

CVSS 4.0

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

EPSS

• CVE-2026-29610: 0.53% estimated exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 44.78 (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.

Command hijacking via PATH handling Discovered: 2026-02-04 Reporter: @akhmittra Summary OpenClaw previously accepted untrusted PATH sources in limited situations. In affected versions, this could cause OpenClaw to resolve and execute an unintended binary ("command hijacking") when running host commands. This issue primarily matters when OpenClaw is relying on allowlist/safe-bin protections and expects PATH to be trustworthy. Affected Packages / Versions - Package: openclaw (npm) - Affected: < 2026.2.14 - Patched: = 2026.2.14 (planned next release) What Is Required To Trigger This A) Node Host PATH override (remote command hijack) An attacker needs all of the following: - Authenticated/authorized access to an execution surface that can invoke node-host execution (for example, a compromised gateway or a caller that can issue system.run). - A node host connected and exposing system.run. - A configuration where allowlist/safe-bins are expected to restrict execution (this is not…

Published by the source

18 Feb 2026, 00:55 UTC

Last modified by the source

6 Mar 2026, 01:17 UTC

Source last checked

26 Oct 2026, 12:43 UTC

1. Revision 3 · amended · 26 Oct 2026

   Amended from ghsa record GHSA-jqpq-mgvm-f9r6

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-jqpq-mgvm-f9r6

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# Patch Next advisory brief: CVE-2026-29610

Advisory: OpenClaw: Command hijacking via unsafe PATH handling (bootstrapping + node-host PATH overrides)
IDs: CVE-2026-29610, GHSA-jqpq-mgvm-f9r6
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/cve-2026-29610 (revision 3, source checked 26 Oct 2026, 12:43 UTC)
Inventory: none attached. This brief comes from a public page and does not say whether any deployment is affected.
Severity: High (CVSS 7.7)
Exploitation: no confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next confirms exploitation only from CISA KEV.
Vendor response: Vendor fix available; fixed versions by package: openclaw 2026.2.14. A vendor fix does not mean a deployment is fixed.

## Affected components
- npm openclaw: affected < 2026.2.14; fixed in 2026.2.14

## 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-jqpq-mgvm-f9r6 (OSV record GHSA-jqpq-mgvm-f9r6 lists affected ranges: npm openclaw >=0 <2026.2.14 (fixed))
- Verified: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-jqpq-mgvm-f9r6 (GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-jqpq-mgvm-f9r6 lists affected ranges: npm openclaw >=0 <2026.2.14)

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