OpenClaw's system.run approval flow did not bind mutable interpreter-style script operands across approval and execution.
A caller could obtain approval for an execution such as sh ./script.sh, rewrite the approved script before execution, and then execute different content under the previously approved command shape. The approved argv values remained the same, but the mutable script operand content could drift after approval.
Latest published npm version verified vulnerable: 2026.3.7
The initial March 7, 2026 fix in c76d29208bf6a7f058d2cf582519d28069e42240 added approval binding for shell scripts and a narrow interpreter set, but follow-up maintainer review on March 8, 2026 found that bun and deno script operands still did not produce mutableFileOperand snapshots.
A complete fix shipped on March 9, 2026 in cf3a479bd1204f62eef7dd82b4aa328749ae6c91, which binds approved bun and deno run script operands to on-disk file snapshots and denies post-approval script drift before execution.
openclaw (npm)<= 2026.3.72026.3.8c76d29208bf6a7f058d2cf582519d28069e42240cf3a479bd1204f62eef7dd82b4aa328749ae6c912026.3.7 remains vulnerable.2026.3.8 contains the completed fix.Thanks @tdjackey for reporting.
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CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) estimates technical severity, but it doesn't automatically equal business risk. Prioritize using context like internet exposure, affected asset criticality, known exploitation (proof-of-concept or in-the-wild), and whether compensating controls exist. A "Medium" CVSS on an exposed, production system can be more urgent than a "Critical" on an isolated, non-production host.
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Use a simple, repeatable triage model: focus first on externally exposed assets, high-value systems (identity, VPN, email, production), vulnerabilities with known exploits, and issues that enable remote code execution or privilege escalation. Then enforce patch SLAs and track progress using consistent metrics so remediation is steady, not reactive.
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