OpenClaw: Lower-trust background runtime output is injected into trusted `System:` events, and local async exec completion misses the intended `exec-event` downgrade
Date: 2026-04
Affected: npm/openclaw
Attack vector: prompt-injection
Category: vulnerability-disclosure
Severity: High
CWE: CWE-501

## Impact Lower-trust background runtime output is injected into trusted `System:` events, and local async exec completion misses the intended `exec-event` downgrade. Lower-trust runtime/background output could be promoted into trusted System events, allowing prompt-injection into later agent turns. OpenClaw is a user-controlled local assistant. This advisory is scoped to the OpenClaw trust model and does not assume a multi-tenant service boundary. ## Affected Packages / Versions - Package: `openclaw` (npm) - Affected versions: `<= 2026.4.2` - Patched versions: `2026.4.8` ## Fix The issue was fixed on `main` and is available in the patched npm version listed above. The verified fixed tree is commit `d7c3210cd6f5fdfdc1beff4c9541673e814354d5`. ## Verification The fix was re-checked against `main` before publication, including targeted regression tests for the affected security boundary. ## Credits Thanks @tdjackey for reporting.


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