OpenClaw's POSIX node system.run safe-bin allowlist could be widened by shell expansion
Summary
On POSIX nodes, OpenClaw's system.run safe-bin checks could approve a command before shell expansion changed how the command was interpreted. A value that appeared to be a safe-bin argument could expand into additional shell words and become a file operand.
This issue is limited to paired POSIX node execution through system.run with safe-bin or allowlist-style auto-approval. It is not an unauthenticated node takeover.
Affected configurations
This affects deployments where:
- a POSIX node is paired to the gateway
system.runis reachable by an authenticated operator or agent flow- exec policy uses safe-bin or allowlist-based auto-approval
- the approved command contains shell-expanded values that can change argv shape
Impact
A lower-privilege operator flow could cause an approved safe-bin command to read a node-local file that was not intended by the policy. Depending on the local files available to the node process, this could expose OpenClaw configuration data or other node-local information.
The issue is a policy-enforcement gap in argv validation, not a general statement that every safe-bin command is unsafe.
Patched Versions
The first stable patched version is 2026.5.18.
Mitigations
Upgrade to openclaw@2026.5.18 or later. Before upgrading, avoid broad safe-bin auto-approval for commands that can read arbitrary paths, and prefer explicit approval for node commands that touch local files.
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm package | openclaw | < 2026.5.18 | 2026.5.18 |
References
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-200, CWE-284, CWE-367, CWE-78- Platform
- npm
- Package
openclaw- Disclosed
- 02.07.2026
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-mhq8-78pj-5j79 - 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
- 588
- First → latest
- 02.2026 07.2026
- Without a fix
- 9
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Critical 20
- High 215
- Medium 299
- Low 54
Disclosures per year
- 2026: 588
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OpenClaw's POSIX node system.run safe-bin allowlist could be widened by shell expansion this entry
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