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TI-2026-38827 Aliases CVE-2026-53831GHSA-mhq8-78pj-5j79

OpenClaw < 2026.5.18 - Arbitrary File Read via Shell Expansion in system.run Safe-bin Allowlist

Priority LOW 35CWE-367Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Attack requirements
Present
Impact type
Information disclosure, Security bypass, Code execution
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · Low
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-200, CWE-284 and CWE-78.

Summary

OpenClaw before 2026.5.18 contains a policy enforcement vulnerability in system.run safe-bin allowlist validation that allows shell expansion to modify command interpretation on POSIX nodes. Authenticated operators can exploit shell metacharacters in approved commands to read unintended node-local files and expose sensitive configuration data.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00198 9th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed OpenClaw (OpenClaw): 2026.5.18openclaw (npm): 2026.5.18

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Total

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
OpenClawOpenClawbefore 2026.5.182026.5.18Patch availableCNA
—openclaw (npm)before 2026.5.182026.5.18Patch availableGHSA-mhq8-78pj-5j79
  • OpenClaw VendorOpenClaw Affected before 2026.5.18 Fixed in 2026.5.18 Patch available CNA
  • openclaw (npm) Vendor— Affected before 2026.5.18 Fixed in 2026.5.18 Patch available GHSA-mhq8-78pj-5j79

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:openclaw:openclaw:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:*before 2026.5.18VulnerableOpenClaw
  • cpe:2.3:a:openclaw:openclaw:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:* Versions before 2026.5.18 Vulnerable ·OpenClaw

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA OpenClaw (OpenClaw) Fixed in 2026.5.18
  • Fix · GHSA-mhq8-78pj-5j79 openclaw (npm) Fixed in 2026.5.18 Advisory →

Fixed in the same release

Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.

  • Release ·

    OpenClaw 2026.5.18

    5 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 1 MEDIUM, 4 LOW

    Other records, highest priority first

    • TI-2026-38818 OpenClaw < 2026.5.18 - Command Argument Modification via Shell Wrapper Between Approval and ExecutionPriority MEDIUM 42
    • TI-2026-38817 OpenClaw < 2026.5.18 - Scope Elevation in trusted-proxy Control UI WebSocketPriority LOW 39
    • TI-2026-38825 OpenClaw < 2026.5.18 - Command Truncation in Exec Approval DisplayPriority LOW 38

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-53831
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-mhq8-78pj-5j79

References

  • TI-2026-25309 OpenClaw < 2026.3.28 Media Parsing Path Traversal to Arbitrary File Read CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.7
  • TI-2026-20394 Exposure of resource to wrong sphere in OpenClaw CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2026-27742 OpenClaw < 2026.3.24 - Arbitrary Code Execution via .npmrc in Local Plugin/Hook Installation CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.4
  • TI-2026-27766 OpenClaw < 2026.3.24 - Denial of Service via Feishu Webhook Pre-Auth Body Parsing CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.9
  • TI-2026-07315 OpenClaw bluebubbles Webhook monitor.ts handleBlueBubblesWebhookRequest improper authentication CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.9
  • TI-2026-17789 OpenClaw < 2026.2.22 - Allowlist Bypass via Command Substitution in system.run CVSS 4.0HIGH 7.5
See all 574 →

Sources