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GHSA-4gc7-qcvf-38wg

HighCVSS 8.8 / 10
Published Mar 3, 2026·Last modified Mar 30, 2026
Affected Components(0)

No affected components available

Description

Summary

This issue applies to a non-default configuration only. If sort is manually added to tools.exec.safeBins, OpenClaw could treat sort --compress-program=<prog> as valid safe-bin usage. In security=allowlist + ask=on-miss, this could satisfy allowlist checks and skip operator approval, while GNU sort may invoke an external program via --compress-program.

Affected Packages / Versions

  • Ecosystem: npm
  • Package: openclaw
  • Affected: <= 2026.2.21-2
  • Patched (planned next release): >= 2026.2.22

Default Installations

Default installs are not impacted by this specific path because sort is not included in default tools.exec.safeBins.

Impact

  • Type: approval/allowlist bypass in optional safe-bin configuration
  • Scope: deployments that explicitly include sort in tools.exec.safeBins and use allowlist + ask=on-miss
  • Consequence: an external program may run under the OpenClaw process context without expected approval

Technical Details

  • sort safe-bin profile allowed --compress-program as a value flag.
  • Safe-bin satisfaction could therefore mark allowlist checks as satisfied.
  • In ask=on-miss, satisfied allowlist checks skip approval prompts.

Fix

  • Block --compress-program in safe-bin sort policy.
  • Add unit and e2e regression coverage for sort --compress-program denial in safe-bin mode.

Fix Commit(s)

  • 57fbbaebca4d34d17549accf6092ae26eb7b605c

OpenClaw thanks @tdjackey for reporting.

Risk Scores
Base Score
8.8

The vulnerability can be exploited over the network without needing physical access. It is easy for an attacker to exploit this vulnerability. An attacker needs basic access or low-level privileges. No user interaction is needed for the attacker to exploit this vulnerability. The impact is confined to the system where the vulnerability exists. There is a high impact on the confidentiality of the information. There is a high impact on the integrity of the data. There is a high impact on the availability of the system.

Threat Intelligence
8.1

Exploitation activity has been observed. Apply available patches or mitigations urgently.

EPSS
0.29%

The exploit probability is very low. The vulnerability is unlikely to be exploited in the next 30 days.

Exploit
Not available

We did not find any exploit available. Neither in GitHub repositories nor in the Exploit-Database.

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High severity
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