CVE-2026-22181: OpenClaw's web tools strict URL guard could lose DNS pinning when env proxy is configured

Summary

openclaw web tools strict URL fetch paths could lose DNS pinning when environment proxy variables are configured (HTTP_PROXY/HTTPS_PROXY/ALL_PROXY, including lowercase variants).

In affected builds, strict URL checks (for example web_fetch and citation redirect resolution) validated one destination during SSRF guard checks, but runtime connection routing could proceed through an env-proxy dispatcher.

Affected Packages / Versions

• Package: openclaw (npm)
• Vulnerable version range: <= 2026.3.1
• Latest published npm version at triage time (2026-03-02): 2026.3.1
• Patched versions: >= 2026.3.2 (released)

Technical Details

The SSRF guard performed hostname resolution and policy checks, then selected a request dispatcher.

When env proxy settings were present, strict web-tool flows could use EnvHttpProxyAgent instead of the DNS-pinned dispatcher. This created a destination-binding gap between check-time resolution and connect-time routing.

The fix keeps DNS pinning on strict/untrusted web-tool URL paths and limits env-proxy bypass behavior to trusted/operator-controlled endpoints via an explicit dangerous opt-in.

Impact

In deployments with env proxy variables configured, attacker-influenced URLs from web tools could be routed through proxy behavior instead of strict pinned-destination routing, which could allow access to internal/private targets reachable from that proxy environment.

Mitigations

Before upgrading, operators can reduce exposure by clearing proxy env vars for OpenClaw runtime processes or disabling web_fetch / web_search where untrusted URL input is possible.

Fix Commit(s)

• 345abf0b2e0f43b0f229e96f252ebf56f1e5549e