OpenClaw: Shell init-file options could satisfy exec allowlist script matching

Exploitation

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

CVSS 4.0

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

EPSS

• CVE-2026-41392: 0.12% estimated exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 1.71 (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 Before OpenClaw 2026.3.31, exec allowlist matching could treat shell init-file wrapper invocations as if the approved script itself were being executed. Shell options such as --rcfile, --init-file, and --startup-file could therefore inherit allowlist trust from a matched script path even though the shell loaded attacker-chosen initialization first. Impact This issue only applied when exec allowlist or allow-always behavior was enabled and the attacker could steer a shell-wrapper command shape that used init-file options. The result was a narrower allowlist bypass, not generic arbitrary command execution from an untrusted boundary. Affected Packages / Versions - Package: openclaw (npm) - Affected versions: < 2026.3.31 - Patched versions: = 2026.3.31 - Latest published npm version: 2026.4.1 Fix Commit(s) - 0c8375424620e12777ef24c162eedc7e9fcfd7e3 — reject shell init-file script matches Release Process Note The fix shipped in OpenClaw 2026.3.31 on March 31, 2026. The current…

Published by the source

7 Apr 2026, 18:14 UTC

Last modified by the source

6 May 2026, 21:39 UTC

Source last checked

26 Oct 2026, 12:51 UTC

1. Revision 3 · amended · 26 Oct 2026

   Amended from ghsa record GHSA-wpc6-37g7-8q4w

2. Revision 2 · amended · 25 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-wpc6-37g7-8q4w

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# Patch Next advisory brief: CVE-2026-41392

Advisory: OpenClaw: Shell init-file options could satisfy exec allowlist script matching
IDs: CVE-2026-41392, GHSA-wpc6-37g7-8q4w
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/cve-2026-41392 (revision 3, source checked 26 Oct 2026, 12:51 UTC)
Inventory: none attached. This brief comes from a public page and does not say whether any deployment is affected.
Severity: Medium (CVSS 6.3)
Exploitation: no confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next confirms exploitation only from CISA KEV.
Vendor response: Vendor fix available; fixed versions by package: openclaw 2026.3.31. A vendor fix does not mean a deployment is fixed.

## Affected components
- npm openclaw: affected < 2026.3.31; fixed in 2026.3.31

## 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-wpc6-37g7-8q4w (OSV record GHSA-wpc6-37g7-8q4w lists affected ranges: npm openclaw >=0 <2026.3.31 (fixed))
- Verified: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-wpc6-37g7-8q4w (GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-wpc6-37g7-8q4w lists affected ranges: npm openclaw >=0 <2026.3.31)

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