OpenClaw shell-env fallback trusted startup env and could execute attacker-influenced login-shell paths

Exploitation

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

CVSS

5.3 · CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L

EPSS

No dated EPSS signal available.

As published by the source; long descriptions are shortened.

Summary OpenClaw shell-env fallback trusted startup environment values and could execute attacker-influenced login-shell startup paths before loading env keys. Affected Packages / Versions - Package: openclaw (npm) - Affected versions: = 2026.1.5 and <= 2026.2.21-2 - Fixed on main: 9363c320d8ffe29290906752fab92621da02c3f7 - Planned patched release version (pre-set): 2026.2.22 Details The vulnerable chain was in the shell-env fallback path: 1. src/infra/shell-env.ts - resolveShell(env) trusted env.SHELL when set. - execLoginShellEnvZero(...) executed ${SHELL} -l -c "env -0" with inherited runtime env. 2. src/config/io.ts - Config env values were applied before shell fallback execution. 3. src/config/env-vars.ts / env policy coverage - SHELL handling was hardened, but startup-path selectors (HOME, ZDOTDIR) still needed explicit blocking in config env ingestion and sanitization for shell fallback execution. With env/config influence, this could trigger unintended command execution in…

Published by the source

3 Mar 2026, 21:39 UTC

Last modified by the source

4 Mar 2026, 15:12 UTC

Source last checked

26 Oct 2026, 12:42 UTC

1. Revision 2 · amended · 26 Oct 2026

   Amended from ghsa record GHSA-5h2c-8v84-qpvr

2. Revision 1 · created · 24 Oct 2026

   Published from osv record GHSA-5h2c-8v84-qpvr

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# Patch Next advisory brief: GHSA-5h2c-8v84-qpvr

Advisory: OpenClaw shell-env fallback trusted startup env and could execute attacker-influenced login-shell paths
IDs: GHSA-5h2c-8v84-qpvr
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/ghsa-5h2c-8v84-qpvr (revision 2, source checked 26 Oct 2026, 12:42 UTC)
Inventory: none attached. This brief comes from a public page and does not say whether any deployment is affected.
Severity: Medium (CVSS 5.3)
Exploitation: no confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next confirms exploitation only from CISA KEV.
Vendor response: Vendor fix available; fixed versions by package: openclaw 2026.2.22. A vendor fix does not mean a deployment is fixed.

## Affected components
- npm openclaw: affected < 2026.2.22; fixed in 2026.2.22

## 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-5h2c-8v84-qpvr (OSV record GHSA-5h2c-8v84-qpvr lists affected ranges: npm openclaw >=0 <2026.2.22 (fixed))
- Verified: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-5h2c-8v84-qpvr (GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-5h2c-8v84-qpvr lists affected ranges: npm openclaw >=0 <2026.2.22)

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