44/100 CVSS 7.8 🔴 CVE ANALYSISPublished: May 5, 2026

OpenClaw vulnerable to arbitrary code execution via attacker-controlled setup-api.js loaded from cwd during env-key resolution

## Summary OpenClaw's bundled plugin setup resolver could fall back to `process.cwd()` while resolving provider setup metadata. If a user ran an OpenClaw command from an attacker-controlled repository containing `extensions/ /setup-api.js`, OpenClaw could load and execute that JavaScript during ordinary provider/model status resolution. ## Impact T...

7.8

CVSS Score

LOW

Threat Level

Priority /100

TBD

Exploited ITW

Monitor

CISA Status

Sources

🔵

HIGH-PRIORITY SECURITY ADVISORY — Priority Score: 44/100

CVSS 7.8 LOW. SENTINEL APEX recommends immediate patch evaluation. Intelligence from 1 confirmed source(s).

📋 Executive Summary

⚡ Analyst Assessment — SENTINEL APEX v4.0

CYBERDUDEBIVASH SENTINEL APEX has confirmed a LOW-tier threat intelligence signal for GHSA-1920a4b570ea524d affecting npm openclaw. Composite threat score: 44/100. Intelligence corroborated across 1 source(s): github_advisories. CVSS base score: 7.8. Exploitation probability assessed as HIGH based on vulnerability characteristics.

Intelligence sources: github_advisories

⚠️ Business Impact Analysis

⚠️ npm openclaw users face material security risk requiring immediate remediation

🔗 Attack Chain Analysis

Step-by-step attack chain based on observed TTPs and vulnerability characteristics:

#	Phase	Attacker Action	MITRE
1	Reconnaissance	Attacker identifies exposed openclaw instances via Shodan, Censys, or targeted scanning	`TA0043`
2	Initial Access	Exploitation of GHSA-1920a4b570ea524d in npm openclaw	`T1190`
3	Execution	Remote code execution achieved — attacker runs arbitrary commands on target system	`T1203`
4	Persistence	Backdoor, scheduled task, or new admin account created for persistent access	`T1053`
5	Command & Control	Attacker establishes persistent C2 channel using HTTPS or DNS tunneling	`T1071`
6	Impact / Objectives	Intellectual property theft, espionage, cryptomining, or preparation for future attack stage	`T1657`

⚠ Deep Dive Analysis

This high-severity vulnerability in npm openclaw (CVSS 7.8) represents a significant attack surface. SENTINEL APEX assesses exploitation to be technically feasible with moderate effort. Organizations running openclaw in internet-facing or privileged positions face immediate risk.

SENTINEL APEX URGENCY: ELEVATED. Score: 44/100 LOW. Patch before exploitation activity begins.

🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Mapping

Category	Mapping
Primary Tactic	Execution
Primary Technique	T1203 — Exploitation for Client Execution
Sub-Technique	T1059 — Command & Scripting Interpreter
Weakness (CWE)	CWE-94
Intel Type	🔴 CVE ANALYSIS
Source(s)	github_advisories

🔍 Detection Rules — Sigma (SIEM)

Deploy to Splunk, Elastic, Microsoft Sentinel, or QRadar. SOC Pro subscribers receive pre-compiled SIEM-native query packs updated with each pipeline run.

Sigma YAMLtitle: GHSA-1920a4b570ea524d Exploitation Attempt — npm openclaw
id: 597f4bfc8314aae7-7ba2
status: experimental
description: Detects exploitation of GHSA-1920a4b570ea524d in npm openclaw. Priority: LOW. Score: 44/100
author: CYBERDUDEBIVASH SENTINEL APEX v4.0 (bivash@cyberdudebivash.com)
date: 2026-05-05
references:
    - https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/GHSA-1920a4b570ea524d
    - https://blog.cyberdudebivash.in/
tags:
    - attack.initial_access
    - attack.t1190
logsource:
    category: webserver
detection:
    keywords:
        - 'ghsa-1920a4b570ea524d'
    condition: keywords
falsepositives:
    - Security scanners
level: medium

📡 Detection Rules — YARA (Endpoint)

Deploy to endpoint detection platforms. Enterprise subscribers receive tuned, FP-validated YARA rule packs.

YARArule GHSA_1920a4b570ea524d_Exploitation {
    meta:
        description = "Detects artifacts related to GHSA-1920a4b570ea524d exploitation in npm openclaw"
        author      = "CYBERDUDEBIVASH SENTINEL APEX v4.0"
        date        = "2026-05-05"
        severity    = "HIGH"
        cvss        = "7.8"
        priority    = "44/100"
        threat_level = "LOW"
        reference   = "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/GHSA-1920a4b570ea524d"
    strings:
        $id_str  = "GHSA-1920a4b570ea524d" ascii nocase
        $product = "openclaw" ascii nocase wide
    condition:
        any of them
}

🛡️ SOC Response Playbook

1IMMEDIATE (0-1hr): Identify all instances of openclaw in your environment via CMDB/asset inventory
2IMMEDIATE (0-1hr): Apply vendor patch — no maintenance window exception for LOW threats
3IMMEDIATE (1-2hr): If no patch available: implement WAF rules, ACLs, or network-level compensating controls
4SHORT-TERM (2-4hr): Deploy Sigma detection rule to SIEM — validate alert generation in test environment
5SHORT-TERM (4-8hr): Review logs for exploitation indicators (anomalous openclaw requests, error spikes)
6SHORT-TERM (8-24hr): Hunt for post-exploitation: new admin accounts, scheduled tasks, lateral movement
7MONITOR: Subscribe to npm security advisories for patch updates
8ONGOING: Track SENTINEL APEX intelligence feed for follow-on campaigns targeting openclaw

📎 Intelligence References

SENTINEL INTEL BRIEF

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⚡ CYBERDUDEBIVASH SENTINEL APEX v4.0

Intelligence report generated by CYBERDUDEBIVASH SENTINEL APEX v4.0
Report ID: SENTINEL-GHSA-1920a4b570ea524d-2026-05-05 | Priority: 44/100 LOW | Sources: 1
© 2026 CYBERDUDEBIVASH PRIVATE LIMITED
Republication requires written attribution to CYBERDUDEBIVASH SENTINEL APEX

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