CVE-2026-34425: OpenClaw - Shell-Bleed Protection Preflight Validation Bypass
Summary
Before OpenClaw 2026.4.2, exec script preflight validation could fail open on complex interpreter invocations such as pipes or other non-simple command forms. In those cases, script-content validation could be skipped entirely.
Impact
An attacker-controlled command shape could bypass the intended preflight validation for script execution. This weakened a defense-in-depth guard that was meant to block unsafe script content before execution.
Affected Packages / Versions
- Package: openclaw (npm) - Affected versions: <= 2026.4.1 - Patched versions: >= 2026.4.2 - Latest published npm version: 2026.4.1
Fix Commit(s)
- 8aceaf5d0f0ec552b75a792f7f0a3bfa5b091513 — close the fail-open bypass in exec script preflight
Release Process Note
The fix is present on main and is staged for OpenClaw 2026.4.2. Publish this advisory after the 2026.4.2 npm release is live.
Thanks @iskindar for reporting, and thanks @wsparks-vc for coordination.
Other sources
OpenClaw versions prior to commit 8aceaf5 contain a preflight validation bypass vulnerability in shell-bleed protection that allows attackers to execute blocked script content by using piped or complex command forms that the parser fails to recognize. Attackers can craft commands such as piped execution, command substitution, or subshell invocation to bypass the validateScriptFileForShellBleed() validation checks and execute arbitrary script content that would otherwise be blocked.
— NVD
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
npm/openclawto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 2026.4.2 - Upgrade
Upgrade
npm/openclawto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in >= 2026.4.2Patch 8aceaf5d0f0ec552b75a792f7f0a3bfa5b091513