CVE-2026-31997
OpenClaw < 2026.3.1 - Executable Rebind via Unbound PATH-token in system.run Approvals
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.3.1 fail to pin executable identity for non-path-like argv[0] tokens in system.run approvals, allowing post-approval executable rebind attacks. Attackers can modify PATH resolution after approval to execute a different binary than the operator approved, enabling arbitrary command execution.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- High
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- Active
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
OpenClaw < 2026.3.1 - Executable Rebind via Unbound PATH-token in system.run Approvals
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.3.1 fail to pin executable identity for non-path-like argv[0] tokens in system.run approvals, allowing post-approval executable rebind attacks. Attackers can modify PATH resolution after approval to execute a different binary than the operator approved, enabling arbitrary command execution.
- Record
CVE-2026-31997- CVSS 4.0
- 4.4 Medium
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:N/PR:L/UI:A/VC:N/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - CVSS 3.1
- 6.0 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-367
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2026-13033
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.3.1 fail to pin executable identity for non-path-like argv[0] tokens in system.run approvals, allowing post-approval executable rebind attacks. Attackers can modify PATH resolution after approval to execute a different binary than the operator approved, enabling arbitrary command execution.
- Record
EUVD-2026-13033- CVSS 4.0
- 4.4 Medium
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:N/PR:L/UI:A/VC:N/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-q399-23r3-hfx4
OpenClaw: system.run approvals did not bind PATH-token executable identity, enabling post-approval executable rebind
Summary
For host=node runs, approvals validated command context but did not pin executable identity for non-path-like argv[0] tokens (for example tr). If PATH resolution changed after approval, execution could run a different binary.
Impact
A previously approved action could execute a different executable than the operator approved.
Fix
Node system.run approvals now require immutable systemRunPlan data, and path-token commands are pinned to canonical executable identity (realpath) across approval and execution.
Affected and Patched Versions
- Affected:
<= 2026.2.26 - Patched:
2026.3.1
- Record
GHSA-q399-23r3-hfx4- CVSS 4.0
- 8.7 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-367, CWE-426
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.3.1 fail to pin executable identity for non-path-like argv[0] tokens in system.run approvals, allowing post-approval executable rebind attacks. Attackers can modify PATH resolution after approval to execute a different binary than the operator approved, enabling arbitrary command execution.
- Record
CVE-2026-31997- CVSS 4.0
- 4.4 Medium
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:N/PR:L/UI:A/VC:N/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X - CVSS 3.1
- 6.0 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N - CVSS 3.1
- 6.7 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-367
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
OpenClaw < 2026.3.1 - Executable Rebind via Unbound PATH-token in system.run Approvals
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.3.1 fail to pin executable identity for non-path-like argv[0] tokens in system.run approvals, allowing post-approval executable rebind attacks. Attackers can modify PATH resolution after approval to execute a different binary than the operator approved, enabling arbitrary command execution.
- Record
CVE-2026-31997- CVSS 4.0
- 4.4 Medium
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:N/PR:L/UI:A/VC:N/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-367
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-q399-23r3-hfx4
OpenClaw: system.run approvals did not bind PATH-token executable identity, enabling post-approval executable rebind
Summary
For host=node runs, approvals validated command context but did not pin executable identity for non-path-like argv[0] tokens (for example tr). If PATH resolution changed after approval, execution could run a different binary.
Impact
A previously approved action could execute a different executable than the operator approved.
Fix
Node system.run approvals now require immutable systemRunPlan data, and path-token commands are pinned to canonical executable identity (realpath) across approval and execution.
Affected and Patched Versions
- Affected:
<= 2026.2.26 - Patched:
2026.3.1
- Record
GHSA-q399-23r3-hfx4- CVSS 4.0
- 8.7 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-367, CWE-426
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
openclawnpm |
before 2026.3.1 | 2026.3.1 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2026-31997 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 4.4) in Openclaw, published March 2, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.10%, the 0th percentile. Fixed in openclaw 2026.3.1.
References
github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-q399-23r3-hfx4
vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-executable-rebind-via-unbound-path-token-in-system-run-approvals
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-31997