Shell Expansion Vulnerability in OpenClaw Package

openclaw Updated 05 May 2026

Summary

04/05/2026

Disclosed on

MODERATE

Severity

Yes i

Fix available

Moderate

Severity

Not published

CVSS Score

GHSA-x3h8-jrgh-p8jx: OpenClaw's exec allowlist analysis rejects shell expansion in unquoted heredocs. Affects openclaw versions < 2026.4.22. Fixed in 2026.4.22. How to fix ↓

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Background

OpenClaw is an npm package designed for executing commands in a controlled environment with an exec allowlist feature. This functionality is crucial for maintaining security by ensuring that only approved commands can be executed. However, a recent vulnerability has been identified that affects versions up to 2026.4.21, allowing potential shell expansion in unquoted heredocs, which could lead to unauthorized command execution.

Vulnerability Detail

The vulnerability arises from the exec allowlist analysis rejecting shell expansion in unquoted heredocs. This means that an attacker could craft an approved command that appears safe but actually contains malicious shell expansions within the heredoc body. As a result, the command executed at runtime could differ significantly from what was initially approved, leading to potential security breaches.

How To Fix

Latest published version: 2026.10.6 as of 22 Oct 2026

npm install openclaw@2026.10.6

Upgrading to it may include breaking changes; the version below is the minimum fixed release for this vulnerability.

If you need the minimum change

2026.4.22

This is the first release that contains the fix.

npm install openclaw@2026.4.22

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Workaround

Currently, there are no specific workarounds mentioned for this vulnerability other than updating to the fixed version. It is advisable to avoid using unquoted heredocs in your commands until the package is updated.

Conclusion

In summary, the OpenClaw package has a vulnerability that allows for shell expansion in unquoted heredocs, affecting versions up to 2026.4.21. Users are advised to update to version 2026.4.22 to fix this issue and ensure the security of their applications.

See every vulnerability recorded for openclaw →