GitHub Advisoryadvisory · npm
GHSA-p4wh-cr8m-gm6c OpenClaw: shell-env trusted-prefix fallback allowed attacker-controlled binary execution via $SHELL
MEDIUM
Official page ↗
- Aliases
- CVE-2026-22217
- Ecosystem
- npm
- Packages
- openclaw
- Severity
- Moderate
- CVSS vector
- CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:L
- Weaknesses
- CWE-184, CWE-829
- Reviewed
- 2026-03-03
Affected packages
• npm openclaw: >= 2026.2.22, < 2026.2.23 → fixed in 2026.2.23
Description
Summary
`shell-env` fallback trusted prefix-based executable paths for `$SHELL`, allowing execution of attacker-controlled binaries in local/runtime-env influence scenarios.
Details
In affected versions, shell selection accepted either:
1. a shell listed in `/etc/shells`, or
2. any executable under hardcoded trusted prefixes (`/bin`, `/usr/bin`, `/usr/local/bin`, `/opt/homebrew/bin`, `/run/current-system/sw/bin`).
The selected shell was then executed as a login shell (`-l -c 'env -0'`) for PATH/environment probing.
On systems where a trusted-prefix directory is writable (for example common Homebrew layouts under `/opt/homebrew/bin`) and runtime `$SHELL` can be influenced, this enabled attacker-controlled binary execution in OpenClaw process context.
The fix removes the trusted-prefix executable fallback and now trusts only shells explicitly registered in `/etc/shells`; otherwise it falls back to `/bin/sh`.
Affected Packages / Versions
• Package: `openclaw` (npm)
• Affected versions: `>= 2026.2.22, = 2026.2.23`
Fix Commit(s)
• `ff10fe8b91670044a6bb0cd85deb736a0ec8fb55`
Release Process Note
This advisory sets `patched_versions` to the released version (`2026.2.23`).
This advisory now reflects released fix version `2026.2.23`.
OpenClaw thanks @tdjackey for reporting.
Related
Alias · CVE (1)
- CVE-2026-22217 OpenClaw version 2026.2.22 prior to 2026.2.23 contains an arbitrary code execution vulnerability in shell-env that allows attackers to… vulnerability
References
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-p4wh-cr8m-gm6c web
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-22217 advisory
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/ff10fe8b91670044a6bb0cd85deb736a0ec8fb55 web
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw package
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-arbitrary-binary-execution-via-shell-environment-variable-trusted-prefix-fallback web