CVE-2026-31993: OpenClaw macOS companion app (beta): allowlist parsing mismatch for system.run shell chains

Summary

In the macOS companion app (currently beta), a parsing mismatch in exec approvals could let shell-chain payloads pass allowlist checks in system.run under specific settings.

Impact

This path requires all of the following:

• authenticated caller with operator.write
• paired macOS beta node host
• exec approvals set to security=allowlist and ask=on-miss

Under those conditions, a shell-chain command could be approved from an incomplete command view and then executed on the paired macOS host.

Default Install Status

Default installs are not affected.

Affected Packages / Versions

• Package: openclaw (npm)
• Affected: <= 2026.2.21-2
• Patched (planned next release): >= 2026.2.22

Technical Details

The fix hardens macOS allowlist resolution by evaluating shell chains per segment and failing closed on unsafe shell-substitution parsing in allowlist mode.

Product Status Note

The affected macOS companion app path is currently in beta.

Fix Commit(s)

• 5da03e622119fa012285cdb590fcf4264c965cb5
• e371da38aab99521c4e076cd3d95fd775e00b784

Release Process Note

patched_versions is pre-set to the planned next npm release (2026.2.22) so once that version is published, this advisory can be published without additional metadata edits.

OpenClaw thanks @tdjackey for reporting.