OpenClaw < 2026.3.24 - Arbitrary Code Execution via .npmrc in Local Plugin/Hook Installation

published 2026-03-30 7 mo ago modified 2026-06-23 4 mo ago also GHSA-m3mh-3mpg-37hw , EUVD-2026-21436

cvss: 7.8; version 3.1, CNA
cisa kev: Not listed; not in CISA's catalog
epss: 0.1%; EPSS 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 3%
public exploits: 0; none known

OpenClaw before 2026.3.24 contains an arbitrary code execution vulnerability in local plugin and hook installation that allows attackers to execute malicious code by crafting a .npmrc file with a git executable override. During npm install execution in the staged package directory, attackers can leverage git dependencies to trigger execution of arbitrary programs specified in the attacker-controlled .npmrc configuration file.

Patch / fix

fixed in 2

npm openclaw 2026.3.24
OpenClaw OpenClaw 2026.3.24

CISA SSVC

Exploitation: Proof of concept is public
Automatable: no
Technical impact: total
Assessed: 6 mo ago (2026-04-14)

Exploit prediction

0.14% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 3% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-08).

Exploits and checks

github.com https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-m3mh-3mpg-37hw referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified

CVSS scores

assigned by	version	score	vector
CNA	4.0	8.4	CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
CNA	3.1	7.8	CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA	4.0	8.4	CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/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
NVD	3.1	7.8	CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
GitHub	3.1	8.6	CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected packages

ecosystem	package	affected	fixed in
npm	openclaw	<2026.3.24	2026.3.24

Affected products

OpenClaw OpenClaw

Classification

Weakness

CWE-349 Acceptance of Extraneous Untrusted Data With Trusted Data
CWE-426 Untrusted Search Path

References

github.com /openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-m3mh-3mpg-37hw
vendor-advisory, exploit, web, mitigation
vulncheck.com /advisories/openclaw-arbitrary-code-execution-via-npmrc-in-local-plugin-hook-installation
third-party-advisory, web
nvd.nist.gov /vuln/detail/CVE-2026-35641
advisory
github.com /openclaw/openclaw
package

Sources

Fencer Vulns keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.

Summary