OpenClaw's system.run allowlist bypass via shell line-continuation command substitution
Summary
In OpenClaw system.run allowlist mode, shell-wrapper analysis could be bypassed by splitting command substitution as $\\ + newline + ( inside double quotes. Analysis treated the payload as allowlisted (for example /bin/echo), while shell runtime folded the line continuation into $(...) and executed non-allowlisted subcommands.
Affected Packages / Versions
- Package: npm
openclaw - Latest published affected version:
2026.2.21-2 - Affected range:
<=2026.2.21-2 - Patched version (planned next release):
2026.2.22
Impact
In deployments that opt into tools.exec.security=allowlist (with ask=on-miss or off), this can bypass approval boundaries and lead to unintended command execution.
Fix Commit(s)
3f0b9dbb36c86e308267924c0d3d4a4e1fc4d1e9
Remediation
- Upgrade to
2026.2.22(or newer) when published. - Temporary mitigation: set
tools.exec.ask=alwaysortools.exec.security=deny.
Release Process Note
patched_versions is pre-set to planned next release 2026.2.22. After npm release is out, this advisory should be ready for direct publish without additional metadata edits.
OpenClaw thanks @tdjackey for reporting.
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm package | openclaw | < 2026.2.22 | 2026.2.22 |
References
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-9868-vxmx-w862
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-28460
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/3f0b9dbb36c86e308267924c0d3d4a4e1fc4d1e9
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-allowlist-bypass-via-shell-line-continuation-command-substitution-in-system-run
- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-78, CWE-863- Platform
- npm
- Package
openclaw- Disclosed
- 03.03.2026
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-9868-vxmx-w862 - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: openclaw
All published vulnerabilities of this package (npm package), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 589
- First → latest
- 02.2026 10.2026
- Without a fix
- 9
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Critical 20
- High 215
- Medium 300
- Low 54
Disclosures per year
- 2026: 589
-
OpenClaw's system.run allowlist bypass via shell line-continuation command substitution this entry
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