EUVD-2026-12718
GHSA-gwqp-86q6-w47g
Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessAuthenticate to OpenClaw with limited privileges
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ExploitInvoke arbitrary command via unrecognized multiplexer wrapper (busybox/toybox sh -c)
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ExecutionBypass allowlist approval rules
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ImpactExecute restricted payload under wrapper context
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V2 - Validation and Business Logic Input validation completeness
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| Exploitation Conditions | OpenClaw versions before 2026.2.23 with allowlist mode enabled and allow-always grants configured. Requires authenticated user access (PR:L). Attacker invokes arbitrary payloads through unrecognized multiplexer shell wrappers (busybox, toybox) using sh -c commands to bypass execution restrictions. |
| Impact | The CVSS v3.1 score of 7.1 (High) reflects a network-accessible vulnerability with low attack complexity requiring low privileges and no user interaction, resulting in high confidentiality impact and low integrity impact. The attack vector (AV:N) indicates remote exploitation is possible, and the low privilege requirement (PR:L) means authenticated users can exploit this. The vulnerability represents a significant authentication and authorization bypass risk, as tagged in the intelligence data. While no EPSS score or KEV status is provided in the available data, the availability of a patch and the specificity of the exploit technique (multiplexer shell wrapper bypass) suggests this is likely being actively researched. The combination of low attack complexity, network accessibility, and authentication bypass capability makes this a genuine priority for organizations using OpenClaw in production environments, particularly in multi-tenant or containerized deployments where busybox and toybox are prevalent. The scope is unchanged (S:U), limiting the impact to the vulnerable component itself, which slightly reduces the overall risk. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An authenticated attacker with low-level privileges connects remotely to an OpenClaw instance running in allowlist mode. The attacker crafts a command invocation using busybox or toybox as a shell wrapper (e.g., 'busybox sh -c malicious_payload') knowing that OpenClaw's allowlist will match against the busybox wrapper itself rather than analyzing the nested payload. The allowlist grants approval based on the stored rule for the wrapper, allowing the attacker to execute arbitrary commands that would otherwise be blocked, potentially exfiltrating sensitive data or escalating privileges within the system. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Mar 18, 2026
OpenClaw contains an execution approval bypass vulnerability in allowlist mode that allows authenticated attackers to circumvent allow-always grants through unrecognized multiplexer shell wrappers like busybox and toybox. Attackers with low-level privileges can invoke arbitrary payloads under these multiplexer wrappers to satisfy stored allowlist rules while executing unintended commands. This affects all OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.23, with a patch now available from the vendor.
RemediationAI
Upgrade OpenClaw to version 2026.2.23 or later to fully remediate this vulnerability. The vendor has released a patch available at https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/a67689a7e3ad494b6637c76235a664322d526f9e which addresses the multiplexer shell wrapper bypass issue. Review the official security advisory at https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-gwqp-86q6-w47g for complete upgrade instructions and any additional configuration changes. As an interim mitigation if immediate patching is not possible, review and audit all allowlist rules to explicitly deny or restrict busybox and toybox shell wrapper invocations, implement additional command validation layers, and restrict network access to OpenClaw services to trusted IP ranges only. Monitor execution logs for suspicious 'sh -c' command patterns involving multiplexer binaries.
Affected VersionsENISA
Affected Packages
Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)
Affects your stack
Affects 1 package in npm
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Technical ContextAI · show details
OpenClaw (CPE: cpe:2.3:a:openclaw:openclaw) appears to be an execution control or command approval system that implements allowlist-based security controls. The vulnerability is rooted in CWE-184 (Incomplete List of Disallowed Inputs), where the allowlist validation logic fails to recognize and properly handle multiplexer shell wrappers such as busybox and toybox when processing 'sh -c' command invocations. These lightweight, multi-call binary implementations bundle multiple Unix utilities into a single executable and are commonly used in embedded systems and containers. The flaw allows attackers to wrap malicious payloads in these unrecognized shell wrappers, causing the allowlist engine to match against the wrapper itself rather than the actual payload being executed, thereby bypassing the intended security restrictions.
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N
Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorNVD
Lifecycle Timeline
2DescriptionCVE.org
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.23 contain an exec approval bypass vulnerability in allowlist mode where allow-always grants could be circumvented through unrecognized multiplexer shell wrappers like busybox and toybox sh -c commands. Attackers can exploit this by invoking arbitrary payloads under the same multiplexer wrapper to satisfy stored allowlist rules, bypassing intended execution restrictions.
Executive ViewAI
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.23 contain a critical authorization bypass vulnerability that allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands despite approved allowlist restrictions. Organizations using OpenClaw in allowlist mode face immediate risk of unauthorized code execution and potential system compromise if not remediated.
Apply vendor patch. If immediate patching is not possible: disable allowlist mode temporarily; restrict network access to OpenClaw systems to trusted networks only; implement enhanced monitoring and logging of shell invocations; audit and remove unnecessary multiplexer wrappers (busybox, toybox) from execution environments.
Threat Intelligence Overview
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
VulDB
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
Authentication bypass attacks exploit flaws in the verification mechanisms that control access to systems and applications.
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