CVE-2026-32032: OpenClaw's shell env fallback trusts unvalidated SHELL path from host environment
(updated )
The shell environment fallback path could invoke an attacker-controlled shell when SHELL was inherited from an untrusted host environment. In affected builds, shell-env loading used $SHELL -l -c 'env -0' without validating that SHELL points to a trusted executable.
In threat-model terms, this requires local environment compromise or untrusted startup environment injection first; it is not a remote pre-auth path. The hardening patch validates SHELL as an absolute normalized executable, prefers /etc/shells, applies trusted-prefix fallback checks, and falls back safely to /bin/sh when validation fails. The dangerous env-var policy now also blocks SHELL overrides.
References
- github.com/advisories/GHSA-f8mp-vj46-cq8v
- github.com/openclaw/openclaw
- github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/25e89cc86338ef475d26be043aa541dfdb95e52a
- github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-f8mp-vj46-cq8v
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-32032
- www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-arbitrary-shell-execution-via-unvalidated-shell-environment-variable
Code Behaviors & Features
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