GHSA-p4wh-cr8m-gm6c
OpenClaw: shell-env trusted-prefix fallback allowed attacker-controlled binary execution via $SHELL
Packages
Details
As written in the advisory (Markdown source, shown as plain text).
### Summary
`shell-env` fallback trusted prefix-based executable paths for `$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, <= 2026.2.22-2`
- Latest published vulnerable version: `2026.2.22-2`
- Patched versions (released): `>= 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.
References
External links from the advisory. They lead to third-party sites.
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-p4wh-cr8m-gm6c
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-22217
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/ff10fe8b91670044a6bb0cd85deb736a0ec8fb55
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-arbitrary-binary-execution-via-shell-environment-variable-trusted-prefix-fallback