GHSA-8wg3-5mcm-fjq8
HIGHGHSA-8wg3-5mcm-fjq8 is a high-severity (CVSS 8.8) CWE-426 vulnerability in openclaw. O3 Security confirms whether GHSA-8wg3-5mcm-fjq8 is actually reachable in your code before you act, and blocks exploitation at runtime until you patch.
OpenClaw: Workspace .env could override Homebrew executable selection for skill install flows
Real-World Exposure
How broadly this vulnerability is actually deployed: weekly install volume shows current usage, a proxy for how much of the ecosystem is exposed.
openclawnpmDescription
Summary
Workspace .env could override Homebrew executable selection for skill install flows. In affected versions, a workspace .env in a repository opened by a trusted operator could override the Homebrew executable used by the install helper.
This advisory is scoped to the named feature and configuration. It does not change OpenClaw's trusted-operator model: authenticated Gateway operators, installed plugins, and intentional local execution surfaces remain trusted unless a separate policy, approval, allowlist, sandbox, or auth boundary is crossed.
Impact
When the affected feature is enabled and reachable, this could run an unintended Homebrew-compatible executable during skill setup. Practical impact depends on the operator's configuration and whether lower-trust input can reach that path.
Patched Versions
The first stable patched version is 2026.5.27.
Mitigations
avoid running skill install flows from untrusted workspaces until patched. As general hardening, keep channel and tool allowlists narrow, avoid sharing one Gateway between mutually untrusted users, and disable the affected feature when it is not needed.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 📦npm | openclaw | all versions | 2026.5.27 |
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for openclaw. O3's reachability analysis confirms whether the vulnerable code path is actually invoked in your application, so you act on real exposure instead of every transitive match.
Fix
Update openclaw to 2026.5.27 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms GHSA-8wg3-5mcm-fjq8 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.
How O3 protects you
O3 pinpoints whether GHSA-8wg3-5mcm-fjq8 is reachable in your code and exactly where to fix it, then blocks exploitation in production at runtime until the patched version is deployed.
Tailored to GHSA-8wg3-5mcm-fjq8. Runtime protection reduces exposure until a permanent patch is applied and verified — it complements patching, it doesn't replace it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GHSA-8wg3-5mcm-fjq8 in your dependencies?
O3 detects GHSA-8wg3-5mcm-fjq8 across npm dependencies and uses function-level reachability to confirm whether the vulnerable code path is actually reachable — not just present. No false positives.