GHSA-vmqr-rc7x-3446 — medium GitHub Advisory (CVE-2026-22169) in npm/openclaw

Description

When sort is explicitly added to tools.exec.safeBins (non-default), the --compress-program option can invoke an external helper and bypass the intended safe-bin approval constraints in allowlist mode.

Affected Packages / Versions

Package: openclaw (npm)
Vulnerable versions: <=2026.2.21-2
Latest published npm version checked during triage: 2026.2.21-2 (as of February 22, 2026)
Patched in planned next release: 2026.2.22

Fix Commit(s)

57fbbaebca4d34d17549accf6092ae26eb7b605c

Release Process Note

patched_versions is pre-set to the planned next release (>=2026.2.22). Once that npm release is published, the advisory can be published directly.

OpenClaw thanks @tdjackey for reporting.

Basic information

Type: reviewed
Severity: medium
Advisory on GitHub: Open advisory ↗
Repository advisory: Open repository advisory ↗
Source code: Browse source ↗
Published (advisory): 2026-03-03 18:54:55 UTC
Updated: 2026-03-18 01:24:59 UTC
GitHub reviewed: 2026-03-03 18:54:55 UTC

Score	Percentile
0.03%	9.47%

CVSS Scores

Base score	Version	Severity	Vector
6.4	3.1	—	`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H` Click to expand Attack vector (AV:L) They already need access on the box, or another person has to do something wrong; it’s not a remote drive-by. Attack complexity (AC:H) Even with access, the exploit needs extra luck, timing, or a fussy environment to actually work. Privileges required (PR:H) They need powerful rights—admin, root, or similar—before this pays off. User interaction (UI:N) Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping. Scope (S:U) Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems. Confidentiality (C:H) Serious risk that confidential data gets exposed in a big way. Integrity (I:H) They could widely tamper with or forge data—trust in the data is badly hurt. Availability (A:H) Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.

Identifiers

Type	Value
GHSA	GHSA-vmqr-rc7x-3446 ↗
CVE	CVE-2026-22169 ↗

CWEs

CWE id	Name
CWE-15	External Control of System or Configuration Setting
CWE-78	Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')

Credits

tdjackey (reporter)

Affected packages (1)

Vulnerable version ranges and first patched releases as published by GitHub.

Ecosystem	Package	Vulnerable range	First patched	Vulnerable functions
npm	openclaw	< 2026.2.22	2026.2.22	—

OpenClaw's non-default safeBins sort configuration can bypass intended allowlist approval constraints