ci: add full release validation workflow

.github/workflows/ci.yml

@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@ name: CI
 
 on:
   workflow_dispatch:
+    inputs:
+      target_ref:
+        description: Optional branch, tag, or full commit SHA to validate instead of the workflow ref
+        required: false
+        default: ""
+        type: string
   push:
     branches: [main]
     paths-ignore:
@@ -30,6 +36,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     timeout-minutes: 20
     outputs:
+      checkout_sha: ${{ steps.checkout_ref.outputs.sha }}
       docs_only: ${{ steps.manifest.outputs.docs_only }}
       docs_changed: ${{ steps.manifest.outputs.docs_changed }}
       run_node: ${{ steps.manifest.outputs.run_node }}
@@ -66,11 +73,16 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v6
         with:
+          ref: ${{ inputs.target_ref || github.sha }}
           fetch-depth: 1
           fetch-tags: false
           persist-credentials: false
           submodules: false
 
+      - name: Resolve checkout SHA
+        id: checkout_ref
+        run: echo "sha=$(git rev-parse HEAD)" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+
       - name: Ensure preflight base commit
         if: github.event_name != 'workflow_dispatch'
         uses: ./.github/actions/ensure-base-commit
@@ -302,12 +314,14 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v6
         with:
+          ref: ${{ inputs.target_ref || github.sha }}
           fetch-depth: 1
           fetch-tags: false
           persist-credentials: false
           submodules: false
 
       - name: Ensure security base commit
+        if: github.event_name != 'workflow_dispatch'
         uses: ./.github/actions/ensure-base-commit
         with:
           base-sha: ${{ github.event_name == 'push' && github.event.before || github.event.pull_request.base.sha }}
@@ -391,6 +405,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v6
         with:
+          ref: ${{ inputs.target_ref || github.sha }}
           fetch-depth: 1
           fetch-tags: false
           persist-credentials: false
@@ -453,7 +468,7 @@ jobs:
         shell: bash
         env:
           CHECKOUT_REPO: ${{ github.repository }}
-          CHECKOUT_SHA: ${{ github.sha }}
+          CHECKOUT_SHA: ${{ needs.preflight.outputs.checkout_sha }}
           CHECKOUT_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
@@ -525,7 +540,7 @@ jobs:
           path: |
             dist/
             dist-runtime/
-          key: ${{ runner.os }}-dist-build-${{ github.sha }}
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-dist-build-${{ needs.preflight.outputs.checkout_sha }}
 
       - name: Pack built runtime artifacts
         run: tar --posix -cf dist-runtime-build.tar.zst --use-compress-program zstdmt dist dist-runtime
@@ -654,7 +669,7 @@ jobs:
         shell: bash
         env:
           CHECKOUT_REPO: ${{ github.repository }}
-          CHECKOUT_SHA: ${{ github.sha }}
+          CHECKOUT_SHA: ${{ needs.preflight.outputs.checkout_sha }}
           CHECKOUT_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
@@ -749,7 +764,7 @@ jobs:
         shell: bash
         env:
           CHECKOUT_REPO: ${{ github.repository }}
-          CHECKOUT_SHA: ${{ github.sha }}
+          CHECKOUT_SHA: ${{ needs.preflight.outputs.checkout_sha }}
           CHECKOUT_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
@@ -852,7 +867,7 @@ jobs:
         shell: bash
         env:
           CHECKOUT_REPO: ${{ github.repository }}
-          CHECKOUT_SHA: ${{ github.sha }}
+          CHECKOUT_SHA: ${{ needs.preflight.outputs.checkout_sha }}
           CHECKOUT_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
@@ -920,7 +935,7 @@ jobs:
         shell: bash
         env:
           CHECKOUT_REPO: ${{ github.repository }}
-          CHECKOUT_SHA: ${{ github.sha }}
+          CHECKOUT_SHA: ${{ needs.preflight.outputs.checkout_sha }}
           CHECKOUT_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
@@ -1040,7 +1055,7 @@ jobs:
         shell: bash
         env:
           CHECKOUT_REPO: ${{ github.repository }}
-          CHECKOUT_SHA: ${{ github.sha }}
+          CHECKOUT_SHA: ${{ needs.preflight.outputs.checkout_sha }}
           CHECKOUT_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
@@ -1120,7 +1135,7 @@ jobs:
         shell: bash
         env:
           CHECKOUT_REPO: ${{ github.repository }}
-          CHECKOUT_SHA: ${{ github.sha }}
+          CHECKOUT_SHA: ${{ needs.preflight.outputs.checkout_sha }}
           CHECKOUT_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
@@ -1307,7 +1322,7 @@ jobs:
         shell: bash
         env:
           CHECKOUT_REPO: ${{ github.repository }}
-          CHECKOUT_SHA: ${{ github.sha }}
+          CHECKOUT_SHA: ${{ needs.preflight.outputs.checkout_sha }}
           CHECKOUT_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
@@ -1439,7 +1454,7 @@ jobs:
         shell: bash
         env:
           CHECKOUT_REPO: ${{ github.repository }}
-          CHECKOUT_SHA: ${{ github.sha }}
+          CHECKOUT_SHA: ${{ needs.preflight.outputs.checkout_sha }}
           CHECKOUT_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
@@ -1637,7 +1652,7 @@ jobs:
         shell: bash
         env:
           CHECKOUT_REPO: ${{ github.repository }}
-          CHECKOUT_SHA: ${{ github.sha }}
+          CHECKOUT_SHA: ${{ needs.preflight.outputs.checkout_sha }}
           CHECKOUT_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
@@ -1700,6 +1715,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v6
         with:
+          ref: ${{ needs.preflight.outputs.checkout_sha }}
           persist-credentials: false
           submodules: false
 
@@ -1742,6 +1758,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v6
         with:
+          ref: ${{ needs.preflight.outputs.checkout_sha }}
           persist-credentials: false
           submodules: false
 
@@ -1846,6 +1863,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v6
         with:
+          ref: ${{ needs.preflight.outputs.checkout_sha }}
           persist-credentials: false
           submodules: false
 
@@ -1886,6 +1904,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v6
         with:
+          ref: ${{ needs.preflight.outputs.checkout_sha }}
           persist-credentials: false
           submodules: false
 
@@ -1986,7 +2005,7 @@ jobs:
         shell: bash
         env:
           CHECKOUT_REPO: ${{ github.repository }}
-          CHECKOUT_SHA: ${{ github.sha }}
+          CHECKOUT_SHA: ${{ needs.preflight.outputs.checkout_sha }}
           CHECKOUT_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail

.github/workflows/full-release-validation.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,339 @@
+name: Full Release Validation
+
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+    inputs:
+      ref:
+        description: Branch, tag, or full commit SHA to validate
+        required: true
+        default: main
+        type: string
+      workflow_ref:
+        description: Trusted workflow ref used to run child workflows
+        required: false
+        default: main
+        type: string
+      provider:
+        description: Provider lane for cross-OS onboarding and the end-to-end agent turn
+        required: false
+        default: openai
+        type: choice
+        options:
+          - openai
+          - anthropic
+          - minimax
+      mode:
+        description: Which cross-OS release lanes to run
+        required: false
+        default: both
+        type: choice
+        options:
+          - fresh
+          - upgrade
+          - both
+      npm_telegram_package_spec:
+        description: Optional published package spec for the post-publish Telegram E2E lane
+        required: false
+        default: ""
+        type: string
+      npm_telegram_provider_mode:
+        description: Provider mode for the optional post-publish Telegram E2E lane
+        required: false
+        default: mock-openai
+        type: choice
+        options:
+          - mock-openai
+          - live-frontier
+      npm_telegram_scenario:
+        description: Optional comma-separated Telegram scenario ids for the post-publish lane
+        required: false
+        default: ""
+        type: string
+
+permissions:
+  actions: write
+  contents: read
+
+concurrency:
+  group: full-release-validation-${{ inputs.ref }}
+  cancel-in-progress: false
+
+env:
+  FORCE_JAVASCRIPT_ACTIONS_TO_NODE24: "true"
+
+jobs:
+  resolve_target:
+    name: Resolve target ref
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+    timeout-minutes: 10
+    outputs:
+      sha: ${{ steps.resolve.outputs.sha }}
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout target ref
+        uses: actions/checkout@v6
+        with:
+          ref: ${{ inputs.ref }}
+          fetch-depth: 0
+          persist-credentials: false
+          submodules: false
+
+      - name: Resolve target SHA
+        id: resolve
+        run: echo "sha=$(git rev-parse HEAD)" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+
+      - name: Summarize target
+        env:
+          TARGET_REF: ${{ inputs.ref }}
+          TARGET_SHA: ${{ steps.resolve.outputs.sha }}
+          WORKFLOW_REF: ${{ inputs.workflow_ref }}
+          NPM_TELEGRAM_PACKAGE_SPEC: ${{ inputs.npm_telegram_package_spec }}
+        run: |
+          {
+            echo "## Full release validation"
+            echo
+            echo "- Target ref: \`${TARGET_REF}\`"
+            echo "- Target SHA: \`${TARGET_SHA}\`"
+            echo "- Child workflow ref: \`${WORKFLOW_REF}\`"
+            echo "- Normal CI: \`CI\` with \`target_ref=${TARGET_REF}\`"
+            echo "- Release/live/Docker/QA: \`OpenClaw Release Checks\`"
+            if [[ -n "${NPM_TELEGRAM_PACKAGE_SPEC// }" ]]; then
+              echo "- Post-publish Telegram E2E: \`${NPM_TELEGRAM_PACKAGE_SPEC}\`"
+            else
+              echo "- Post-publish Telegram E2E: skipped because no published package spec was provided"
+            fi
+          } >> "$GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY"
+
+  normal_ci:
+    name: Run normal full CI
+    needs: [resolve_target]
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+    timeout-minutes: 240
+    steps:
+      - name: Dispatch and monitor CI
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
+          TARGET_REF: ${{ inputs.ref }}
+          TARGET_SHA: ${{ needs.resolve_target.outputs.sha }}
+          WORKFLOW_REF: ${{ inputs.workflow_ref }}
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+
+          dispatch_and_wait() {
+            local workflow="$1"
+            local workflow_ref="$2"
+            shift 2
+
+            local before_json run_id status conclusion url
+            before_json="$(gh run list --workflow "$workflow" --event workflow_dispatch --limit 100 --json databaseId --jq '[.[].databaseId]')"
+
+            gh workflow run "$workflow" --ref "$workflow_ref" "$@"
+
+            for _ in $(seq 1 60); do
+              run_id="$(
+                BEFORE_IDS="$before_json" gh run list --workflow "$workflow" --event workflow_dispatch --limit 50 --json databaseId,createdAt \
+                  --jq 'map(select(.databaseId as $id | (env.BEFORE_IDS | fromjson | index($id) | not))) | sort_by(.createdAt) | reverse | .[0].databaseId // empty'
+              )"
+              if [[ -n "$run_id" ]]; then
+                break
+              fi
+              sleep 5
+            done
+
+            if [[ -z "${run_id:-}" ]]; then
+              echo "Could not find dispatched run for ${workflow}." >&2
+              exit 1
+            fi
+
+            echo "Dispatched ${workflow}: https://github.com/${GITHUB_REPOSITORY}/actions/runs/${run_id}"
+
+            while true; do
+              status="$(gh run view "$run_id" --json status --jq '.status')"
+              if [[ "$status" == "completed" ]]; then
+                break
+              fi
+              sleep 30
+            done
+
+            conclusion="$(gh run view "$run_id" --json conclusion --jq '.conclusion')"
+            url="$(gh run view "$run_id" --json url --jq '.url')"
+            echo "${workflow} finished with ${conclusion}: ${url}"
+            if [[ "$conclusion" != "success" ]]; then
+              gh run view "$run_id" --json jobs --jq '.jobs[] | select(.conclusion != "success" and .conclusion != "skipped") | {name, conclusion, url}'
+              exit 1
+            fi
+          }
+
+          {
+            echo "### Normal CI"
+            echo
+            echo "- Target ref: \`${TARGET_REF}\`"
+            echo "- Target SHA: \`${TARGET_SHA}\`"
+          } >> "$GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY"
+
+          dispatch_and_wait ci.yml "$WORKFLOW_REF" -f target_ref="$TARGET_REF"
+
+  release_checks:
+    name: Run release/live/Docker/QA validation
+    needs: [resolve_target]
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+    timeout-minutes: 720
+    steps:
+      - name: Dispatch and monitor release checks
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
+          TARGET_REF: ${{ inputs.ref }}
+          TARGET_SHA: ${{ needs.resolve_target.outputs.sha }}
+          WORKFLOW_REF: ${{ inputs.workflow_ref }}
+          PROVIDER: ${{ inputs.provider }}
+          MODE: ${{ inputs.mode }}
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+
+          dispatch_and_wait() {
+            local workflow="$1"
+            local workflow_ref="$2"
+            shift 2
+
+            local before_json run_id status conclusion url
+            before_json="$(gh run list --workflow "$workflow" --event workflow_dispatch --limit 100 --json databaseId --jq '[.[].databaseId]')"
+
+            gh workflow run "$workflow" --ref "$workflow_ref" "$@"
+
+            for _ in $(seq 1 60); do
+              run_id="$(
+                BEFORE_IDS="$before_json" gh run list --workflow "$workflow" --event workflow_dispatch --limit 50 --json databaseId,createdAt \
+                  --jq 'map(select(.databaseId as $id | (env.BEFORE_IDS | fromjson | index($id) | not))) | sort_by(.createdAt) | reverse | .[0].databaseId // empty'
+              )"
+              if [[ -n "$run_id" ]]; then
+                break
+              fi
+              sleep 5
+            done
+
+            if [[ -z "${run_id:-}" ]]; then
+              echo "Could not find dispatched run for ${workflow}." >&2
+              exit 1
+            fi
+
+            echo "Dispatched ${workflow}: https://github.com/${GITHUB_REPOSITORY}/actions/runs/${run_id}"
+
+            while true; do
+              status="$(gh run view "$run_id" --json status --jq '.status')"
+              if [[ "$status" == "completed" ]]; then
+                break
+              fi
+              sleep 60
+            done
+
+            conclusion="$(gh run view "$run_id" --json conclusion --jq '.conclusion')"
+            url="$(gh run view "$run_id" --json url --jq '.url')"
+            echo "${workflow} finished with ${conclusion}: ${url}"
+            if [[ "$conclusion" != "success" ]]; then
+              gh run view "$run_id" --json jobs --jq '.jobs[] | select(.conclusion != "success" and .conclusion != "skipped") | {name, conclusion, url}'
+              exit 1
+            fi
+          }
+
+          {
+            echo "### Release/live/Docker/QA validation"
+            echo
+            echo "- Target ref: \`${TARGET_REF}\`"
+            echo "- Target SHA: \`${TARGET_SHA}\`"
+            echo "- Provider: \`${PROVIDER}\`"
+            echo "- Cross-OS mode: \`${MODE}\`"
+          } >> "$GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY"
+
+          dispatch_and_wait openclaw-release-checks.yml "$WORKFLOW_REF" \
+            -f ref="$TARGET_REF" \
+            -f provider="$PROVIDER" \
+            -f mode="$MODE"
+
+  npm_telegram:
+    name: Run post-publish Telegram E2E
+    needs: [resolve_target]
+    if: inputs.npm_telegram_package_spec != ''
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+    timeout-minutes: 120
+    steps:
+      - name: Dispatch and monitor npm Telegram E2E
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
+          WORKFLOW_REF: ${{ inputs.workflow_ref }}
+          PACKAGE_SPEC: ${{ inputs.npm_telegram_package_spec }}
+          PROVIDER_MODE: ${{ inputs.npm_telegram_provider_mode }}
+          SCENARIO: ${{ inputs.npm_telegram_scenario }}
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+
+          before_json="$(gh run list --workflow npm-telegram-beta-e2e.yml --event workflow_dispatch --limit 100 --json databaseId --jq '[.[].databaseId]')"
+
+          args=(-f package_spec="$PACKAGE_SPEC" -f provider_mode="$PROVIDER_MODE")
+          if [[ -n "${SCENARIO// }" ]]; then
+            args+=(-f scenario="$SCENARIO")
+          fi
+
+          gh workflow run npm-telegram-beta-e2e.yml --ref "$WORKFLOW_REF" "${args[@]}"
+
+          run_id=""
+          for _ in $(seq 1 60); do
+            run_id="$(
+              BEFORE_IDS="$before_json" gh run list --workflow npm-telegram-beta-e2e.yml --event workflow_dispatch --limit 50 --json databaseId,createdAt \
+                --jq 'map(select(.databaseId as $id | (env.BEFORE_IDS | fromjson | index($id) | not))) | sort_by(.createdAt) | reverse | .[0].databaseId // empty'
+            )"
+            if [[ -n "$run_id" ]]; then
+              break
+            fi
+            sleep 5
+          done
+
+          if [[ -z "$run_id" ]]; then
+            echo "Could not find dispatched run for npm-telegram-beta-e2e.yml." >&2
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
+          echo "Dispatched npm-telegram-beta-e2e.yml: https://github.com/${GITHUB_REPOSITORY}/actions/runs/${run_id}"
+
+          while true; do
+            status="$(gh run view "$run_id" --json status --jq '.status')"
+            if [[ "$status" == "completed" ]]; then
+              break
+            fi
+            sleep 60
+          done
+
+          conclusion="$(gh run view "$run_id" --json conclusion --jq '.conclusion')"
+          url="$(gh run view "$run_id" --json url --jq '.url')"
+          echo "npm-telegram-beta-e2e.yml finished with ${conclusion}: ${url}"
+          if [[ "$conclusion" != "success" ]]; then
+            gh run view "$run_id" --json jobs --jq '.jobs[] | select(.conclusion != "success" and .conclusion != "skipped") | {name, conclusion, url}'
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
+  summary:
+    name: Verify full validation
+    needs: [normal_ci, release_checks, npm_telegram]
+    if: always()
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+    timeout-minutes: 5
+    steps:
+      - name: Verify child workflow results
+        env:
+          NORMAL_CI_RESULT: ${{ needs.normal_ci.result }}
+          RELEASE_CHECKS_RESULT: ${{ needs.release_checks.result }}
+          NPM_TELEGRAM_RESULT: ${{ needs.npm_telegram.result }}
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+          failed=0
+          for item in \
+            "normal_ci=${NORMAL_CI_RESULT}" \
+            "release_checks=${RELEASE_CHECKS_RESULT}" \
+            "npm_telegram=${NPM_TELEGRAM_RESULT}"
+          do
+            name="${item%%=*}"
+            result="${item#*=}"
+            if [[ "$result" != "success" && "$result" != "skipped" ]]; then
+              echo "::error::${name} ended with ${result}"
+              failed=1
+            fi
+          done
+          exit "$failed"

.github/workflows/openclaw-live-and-e2e-checks-reusable.yml

@@ -190,42 +190,29 @@ jobs:
       - name: Validate selected ref
         id: validate
         env:
-          GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
           INPUT_REF: ${{ inputs.ref }}
-          WORKFLOW_REF_NAME: ${{ github.ref_name }}
         shell: bash
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
           selected_sha="$(git rev-parse HEAD)"
           trusted_reason=""
 
-          git fetch --no-tags origin +refs/heads/main:refs/remotes/origin/main
-          if [[ "${WORKFLOW_REF_NAME}" =~ ^release/[0-9]{4}\.[1-9][0-9]*\.[1-9][0-9]*$ ]]; then
-            git fetch --no-tags origin "+refs/heads/${WORKFLOW_REF_NAME}:refs/remotes/origin/${WORKFLOW_REF_NAME}"
-          fi
+          git fetch --no-tags origin '+refs/heads/*:refs/remotes/origin/*'
+          git fetch --tags origin '+refs/tags/*:refs/tags/*'
 
           if git merge-base --is-ancestor "$selected_sha" refs/remotes/origin/main; then
             trusted_reason="main-ancestor"
-          elif [[ "${WORKFLOW_REF_NAME}" =~ ^release/[0-9]{4}\.[1-9][0-9]*\.[1-9][0-9]*$ ]] &&
-            [[ "$selected_sha" == "$(git rev-parse "refs/remotes/origin/${WORKFLOW_REF_NAME}")" ]]; then
-            trusted_reason="release-branch-head"
           elif git tag --points-at "$selected_sha" | grep -Eq '^v'; then
             trusted_reason="release-tag"
+          elif git for-each-ref --format='%(refname:short)' --contains "$selected_sha" refs/remotes/origin | grep -Eq '^origin/'; then
+            trusted_reason="repository-branch-history"
           else
-            pr_head_count="$(
-              gh api \
-                -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
-                "repos/${GITHUB_REPOSITORY}/commits/${selected_sha}/pulls" \
-                --jq '[.[] | select(.state == "open" and .head.repo.full_name == "'"${GITHUB_REPOSITORY}"'" and .head.sha == "'"${selected_sha}"'")] | length'
-            )"
-            if [[ "$pr_head_count" != "0" ]]; then
-              trusted_reason="open-pr-head"
-            fi
+            trusted_reason=""
           fi
 
           if [[ -z "$trusted_reason" ]]; then
             echo "Ref '${INPUT_REF}' resolved to $selected_sha, which is not trusted for secret-bearing live/E2E checks." >&2
-            echo "Allowed refs must be on main, match the current release branch head, point to a release tag, or match an open PR head in ${GITHUB_REPOSITORY}." >&2
+            echo "Allowed refs must be reachable from an OpenClaw branch or release tag." >&2
             exit 1
           fi
 

.github/workflows/openclaw-release-checks.yml

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ on:
   workflow_dispatch:
     inputs:
       ref:
-        description: Existing release tag or current full 40-character workflow-branch commit SHA to validate (for example v2026.4.12 or 0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef01234567)
+        description: Branch, tag, or full commit SHA to validate
         required: true
         type: string
       provider:
@@ -63,8 +63,8 @@ jobs:
           RELEASE_REF: ${{ inputs.ref }}
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
-          if [[ ! "${RELEASE_REF}" =~ ^v[0-9]{4}\.[1-9][0-9]*\.[1-9][0-9]*((-beta\.[1-9][0-9]*)|(-[1-9][0-9]*))?$ ]] && [[ ! "${RELEASE_REF}" =~ ^[0-9a-fA-F]{40}$ ]]; then
-            echo "Expected an existing release tag or current full 40-character workflow-branch commit SHA, got: ${RELEASE_REF}" >&2
+          if [[ -z "${RELEASE_REF// }" ]] || [[ "${RELEASE_REF}" == -* ]]; then
+            echo "Expected a branch, tag, or full commit SHA; got: ${RELEASE_REF}" >&2
             exit 1
           fi
 
@@ -78,24 +78,27 @@ jobs:
         id: ref
         run: echo "sha=$(git rev-parse HEAD)" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
 
-      - name: Validate selected ref is on workflow branch
+      - name: Validate selected ref belongs to this repository
         env:
           RELEASE_REF: ${{ inputs.ref }}
-          WORKFLOW_REF_NAME: ${{ github.ref_name }}
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
-          RELEASE_BRANCH_REF="refs/remotes/origin/${WORKFLOW_REF_NAME}"
-          git fetch --no-tags origin "+refs/heads/${WORKFLOW_REF_NAME}:refs/remotes/origin/${WORKFLOW_REF_NAME}"
-          if [[ "${RELEASE_REF}" =~ ^[0-9a-fA-F]{40}$ ]]; then
-            BRANCH_SHA="$(git rev-parse "${RELEASE_BRANCH_REF}")"
-            if [[ "$(git rev-parse HEAD)" != "${BRANCH_SHA}" ]]; then
-              echo "Commit SHA mode only supports the current ${WORKFLOW_REF_NAME} HEAD. Use a release tag for older commits." >&2
-              exit 1
-            fi
-          else
-            git merge-base --is-ancestor HEAD "${RELEASE_BRANCH_REF}"
+          SELECTED_SHA="$(git rev-parse HEAD)"
+          git fetch --no-tags origin '+refs/heads/*:refs/remotes/origin/*'
+          git fetch --tags origin '+refs/tags/*:refs/tags/*'
+
+          if git tag --points-at "${SELECTED_SHA}" | grep -Eq '^v'; then
+            exit 0
           fi
 
+          if git for-each-ref --format='%(refname:short)' --contains "${SELECTED_SHA}" refs/remotes/origin | grep -Eq '^origin/'; then
+            exit 0
+          fi
+
+          echo "Ref '${RELEASE_REF}' resolved to ${SELECTED_SHA}, but that commit is not reachable from an OpenClaw branch or release tag." >&2
+          echo "Secret-bearing release checks only run repository-owned branch/tag history, not arbitrary unreferenced commits." >&2
+          exit 1
+
       - name: Capture selected inputs
         id: inputs
         env: