OpenClaw < 2026.5.18 - Arbitrary File Read via Shell Expansion in system.run Safe-bin Allowlist
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
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
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenClaw | OpenClaw | before 2026.5.18 | 2026.5.18 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | openclaw (npm) | before 2026.5.18 | 2026.5.18 | Patch available | GHSA-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
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
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-53831
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-mhq8-78pj-5j79
References
More Openclaw vulnerabilities
- 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
Sources
- CVE-2026-53831 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-53831 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-mhq8-78pj-5j79 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences