Severity by source
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:N/PR:L/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
Local filesystem write access and script-replacement timing require AV:L and AC:H; some system presence needed (PR:L); operator must complete approval (UI:R); no scope change (S:U).
Primary rating from NVD.
CVSS VectorNVD
Lifecycle Timeline
6Blast Radius
ecosystem impact- 5 npm packages depend on openclaw (5 direct, 0 indirect)
Ecosystem-wide dependent count for version 2026.4.2.
DescriptionCVE.org
OpenClaw before 2026.4.2 contains an approval integrity vulnerability in pnpm dlx that fails to bind local script operands consistently with pnpm exec flows. Attackers can replace approved local scripts before execution without invalidating the approval plan, allowing execution of modified script contents.
AnalysisAI
Approval integrity bypass in OpenClaw's pnpm dlx command-planning path (all versions up to 2026.4.1) allows a low-privileged local attacker to replace an approved local script between the approval decision and actual execution, running arbitrary code under a still-valid approval plan. The root cause is a TOCTOU flaw (CWE-367): unlike the parallel pnpm exec flow, pnpm dlx did not bind local script operands into the approval plan's mutable-file tracking, leaving the script file unmonitored after approval. No active exploitation is confirmed (EPSS 0.01%, SSVC exploitation: none), though SSVC rates technical impact as total given full C/I/A exposure on the vulnerable system.
Technical ContextAI
OpenClaw (npm package, CPE: cpe:2.3:a:openclaw:openclaw) provides an AI coding-agent harness that integrates with pnpm's dlx and exec subcommands via a node-host command-planning and approval pipeline. CWE-367 (Time-of-check Time-of-use race condition) describes the root cause precisely: during approval planning, pnpm dlx invocations did not resolve and bind local script operands (e.g., ./run.ts) into the plan's mutableFileOperand field, while the pnpm exec path correctly tracked these via revalidateApprovedMutableFileOperand. This asymmetry left a window between operator approval and script execution in which a co-located attacker could overwrite the script file without invalidating the approval. The fix commit 176c059b05357df1bc09d4328a2380670859eeff routes pnpm dlx through the same mutable-script binding logic used by pnpm exec, closing the TOCTOU window.
RemediationAI
Upgrade OpenClaw to version 2026.4.2 or later, which binds pnpm dlx local script operands through the approval planner's mutable-script tracking path before any approval is granted, closing the TOCTOU window. The fix is documented in GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-w6wx-jq6j-6mcj (https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-w6wx-jq6j-6mcj) and implemented in commit 176c059b05357df1bc09d4328a2380670859eeff (https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/176c059b05357df1bc09d4328a2380670859eeff). If immediate upgrade is not possible, restrict local filesystem write access for all accounts that share the environment with OpenClaw operators, reducing an attacker's ability to modify script files between approval and execution - though this imposes operational constraints on shared-user environments. As an additional workaround, avoid invoking local-path scripts (e.g., ./run.ts) through OpenClaw's pnpm dlx approval flow until patched; this eliminates the vulnerable code path at the cost of restricting scripted workflows that rely on this invocation pattern.
Auth bypass in OpenClaw voice-call extension before 2026.2.1. EPSS 0.68%. PoC and patch available.
Privilege escalation in OpenClaw (pre-2026.3.28) allows unauthenticated remote attackers to gain administrative access b
OpenClaw versions 2026.2.22 through 2026.2.24 contain a privilege escalation vulnerability that allows authenticated att
An authorization mismatch vulnerability in OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.3.1 allows authenticated users with operator.
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.1.29 automatically establish WebSocket connections to attacker-controlled gateway URLs e
Path traversal in OpenClaw through version 2026.3.23 enables unauthenticated remote attackers to read arbitrary files in
OpenClaw sandbox browser functionality launches x11vnc for noVNC observer sessions without requiring authentication, all
OpenClaw versions before 2026.2.26 allow authenticated attackers to write arbitrary files outside the workspace director
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.22 contain a shell environment variable injection vulnerability in the system.run func
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.22 contain a resource exhaustion vulnerability where the application fails to consiste
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.3.1 contain a sandbox escape vulnerability that allows authenticated attackers with low
OpenClaw versions 2026.1.30 and below fail to validate Telegram webhook secret tokens when `channels.telegram.webhookSec
Same technique Information Disclosure
View allShare
External POC / Exploit Code
Leaving vuln.today
EUVD-2026-25344
GHSA-v3p7-858r-pr8m