Openclaw cli: OpenClaw's `tools.exec.safeBins` PATH-hijack allowed trojan binaries to bypass allowlist checks (CVE-2026-32015)
Description
OpenClaw CLI versions from 2026.1.21 up to but not including 2026.2.18 contain a vulnerability in the tools.exec.safeBins allowlist mechanism. The vulnerability allows an attacker who can influence the PATH environment before the gateway process starts to execute trojan binaries named as allowed executables, bypassing the allowlist checks. This issue is rated medium severity due to the prerequisite of controlling the gateway launch environment. The vulnerability is fixed in version 2026.2.19 by enforcing that allowed executables must reside in trusted system directories.
CVSS v3.1
Score 7.8high
Affected software
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AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
The OpenClaw CLI's tools.exec.safeBins allowlist validation previously accepted executables based on their name and argument shape without verifying that the executable resided in trusted directories. This allowed attackers who could manipulate the PATH environment before the gateway startup to execute trojan binaries named with allowlisted executable names, such as 'jq'. The vulnerability affects versions >=2026.1.21 and <2026.2.18. The fix, introduced in 2026.2.19, requires resolved executable paths to come from trusted bin directories, preventing PATH hijacking bypasses.
Potential Impact
An attacker with the ability to influence the gateway process's PATH or launch environment can cause execution of malicious trojan binaries under the guise of allowlisted executable names. This could lead to high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts as indicated by the CVSS score of 7.8. However, exploitation requires an additional precondition of controlling the gateway launch environment, which limits the attack surface.
Mitigation Recommendations
A patch is available in OpenClaw CLI version 2026.2.19 that enforces safeBins to only accept executables from trusted system directories, closing the PATH hijack bypass. Users should upgrade to version 2026.2.19 or later to remediate this vulnerability.
Technical Details
- Gcve Source
- db.gcve.eu
- Osv Id
- BREW-openclaw-cli-CVE-2026-32015
- Osv Schema Version
- 1.7.3
- Ecosystems
- ["Homebrew"]
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
Threat ID: 6ac245bf12601ec6a3166bfa
Added to database: 10/04/2026, 12:25:35 UTC
Last enriched: 10/04/2026, 13:05:23 UTC
Last updated: 10/04/2026, 16:08:37 UTC
Views: 1
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