CVE-2026-32038: OpenClaw has a sandbox network isolation bypass via docker.network=container:<id>

Summary

In [email protected], sandbox network hardening blocks network=host but still allows network=container:<id>.

This can let a sandbox join another container's network namespace and reach services available in that namespace.

Preconditions and Trust Model Context

This issue requires a trusted-operator configuration path (for example setting agents.defaults.sandbox.docker.network in gateway config). It is not an unauthenticated remote exploit by itself.

Details

Current validation blocks only host, while forwarding other values to Docker create args:

• validateNetworkMode(network) only rejects values in BLOCKED_NETWORK_MODES = {"host"}.
• buildSandboxCreateArgs(...) validates then forwards cfg.network into --network.
• Browser sandbox helper also treats container: as an accepted mode in network preparation.

Effective behavior:

• host -> blocked
• container:<id> -> accepted and forwarded

Impact

Type: sandbox network isolation hardening bypass.

Practical impact depends on deployment:

• Requires ability to influence trusted sandbox network config.
• Higher impact when a target container exposes privileged/internal network reachability.

Remediation

Block namespace-join style network modes (including container:<id>) for sandbox containers, and keep strict allowlisting for safe network modes.

Patch Status

Fixed on main in commit 14b6eea6e: https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/14b6eea6e

Follow-up refactor/cleanup (no policy rollback): https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/5552f9073

Publication Update (2026-02-25)

[email protected] is published on npm and contains the fix commit(s) listed above. This advisory now marks >= 2026.2.24 as patched.