OpenClaw's Node system.run approval hardening wrapper semantic drift can execute unintended local scripts
### Summary In `openclaw@2026.3.1`, node `system.run` approval-path hardening rewrote wrapper command argv in a way that changed execution semantics. A command shown/approved as a shell payload (for example `echo SAFE`) could execute a different local script when wrapper argv were rewritten. ### Affected Packages / Versions - Package: `openclaw` (npm) - Affected: `2026.3.1` (latest published npm version as of March 2, 2026) - Fixed release: `2026.3.2` (released) ### Technical Details Root cause was in node-host approval hardening for `system.run`: - `src/node-host/invoke-system-run-plan.ts` rewrote `argv[0]` to the resolved executable. - Wrapper resolution unwrapped dispatch wrappers, so input like `['env','sh','-c','echo SAFE']` resolved executable `sh`. - The approved plan could become `['/bin/sh','sh','-c','echo SAFE']` while approval text remained `echo SAFE`. That rewrite changed runtime behavior: `/bin/sh` interprets the extra `sh` positional argument as a script path, enabling execution of a local `./sh` file from approved `cwd` instead of the approved payload text. ### Impact Approval-integrity break in `host=node` execution flow: operator-visible command text and executed behavior could diverge. Exploit preconditions: - attacker can influence wrapper argv and place a local file in approved working directory, - operator grants approval for the displayed command. ### Fix Commit(s) - `dded569626b0d8e7bdab10b5e7528b6caf73a0f1` ### Fixed Version - Patched in `openclaw@2026.3.2`.
describes (1)
Related CVEs.
| ID | severity | exploitable | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2026-29608US | medium6.7 | — | ||
OpenClaw 2026.3.1 contains an approval integrity vulnerability in system.run node-host execution where argv rewriting changes command semantics. Attackers can place malicious local… | ||||
references
External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclawPACKAGE
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/dded569626b0d8e7bdab10b5e7528b6caf73a0f1WEB
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-h3rm-6x7g-882fWEB
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-29608ADVISORY
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-approval-integrity-bypass-via-system-run-argv-rewritingWEB
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