OpenClaw: Leaf subagents could steer sibling sessions across sandbox boundaries
Key facts
- Attack vector
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- Privileges required
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- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
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- Impact type
- Privilege escalation
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Fixed
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from GitHub. Impact type from CWE-269.
Summary
## Summary In affected versions of `openclaw`, sandboxed leaf subagents could still access the `subagents` control surface and resolve against the parent requester scope instead of remaining confined to their own session tree. ## Impact A low-privilege sandboxed leaf worker could steer or kill a sibling run owned by the same requester and cause that sibling to execute with its own broader tool policy. This is a sandbox and session-scope boundary bypass. ## Affected Packages and Versions - Package: `openclaw` (npm) - Affected versions: `<= 2026.3.8` - Fixed in: `2026.3.11` ## Technical Details Leaf subagents retained the `subagents` tool, and subagent control requests were authorized against the parent requester scope rather than the caller's own spawned descendants. The control path prevented only self-targeting, not cross-sibling steering. ## Fix OpenClaw now removes `subagents` control access from leaf subagents by default, scopes subagent control to the caller's own descendants, and rejects `steer` and `kill` requests that target runs outside that descendant tree. The fix shipped in `[email protected]`. ## Workarounds Upgrade to `2026.3.11` or later.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | openclaw (npm) | before 2026.3.11 | 2026.3.11 | Patch available | GHSA-4w7m-58cg-cmff |
- openclaw (npm) Vendor— Affected before 2026.3.11 Fixed in 2026.3.11 Patch available GHSA-4w7m-58cg-cmff
Remediation
- Fix · GHSA-4w7m-58cg-cmff openclaw (npm) Fixed in 2026.3.11 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-03 Threatist record created from GHSA-4w7m-58cg-cmff
References
Sources
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