CVE-2026-32032
OpenClaw's shell env fallback trusts unvalidated SHELL path from host environment
Impact
The shell environment fallback path could invoke an attacker-controlled shell when `SHELL` was inherited from an untrusted host environment. In affected builds, shell-env loading used `$SHELL -l -c 'env -0'` without validating that `SHELL` points to a trusted executable. In threat-model terms, this requires local environment compromise or untrusted startup environment injection first; it is not a remote pre-auth path. The hardening patch validates `SHELL` as an absolute normalized executable, prefers `/etc/shells`, applies trusted-prefix fallback checks, and falls back safely to `/bin/sh` when validation fails. The dangerous env-var policy now also blocks `SHELL` overrides. ## Affected Packages / Versions - Package: `openclaw` (npm) - Affected versions: `<= 2026.2.21-2` - Latest published vulnerable version: `2026.2.21-2` - Patched versions (planned next release): `>= 2026.2.22` ## Fix Commit(s) - `25e89cc86338ef475d26be043aa541dfdb95e52a` ## Release Process Note The advisory pre-sets `patched_versions` to the planned next release (`2026.2.22`). After that npm release is published, maintainers can publish this advisory without further version-field edits. OpenClaw thanks @athuljayaram for reporting.
Affected packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm | openclaw | < 2026.2.22 | 2026.2.22 |
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions |
|---|---|---|
| Openclaw | Openclaw | before 2026.2.22 |
Weakness classification
References
- NVD record
- CVE.org record
- GitHub advisory
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/25e89cc86338ef475d26be043aa541dfdb95e52a
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-f8mp-vj46-cq8v
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-arbitrary-shell-execution-via-unvalidated-shell-environment-variable
- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-f8mp-vj46-cq8v
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-32032