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

published 2026-06-12 4 mo ago modified 2026-08-26 2 mo ago also GHSA-mhq8-78pj-5j79 , EUVD-2026-36619

cvss: 8.3; version 3.1, CNA
cisa kev: Not listed; not in CISA's catalog
epss: 0.2%; EPSS 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 9%
public exploits: 0; none known

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.

Patch / fix

fixed in 2

npm openclaw 2026.5.18
OpenClaw OpenClaw 2026.5.18

CISA SSVC

Exploitation: none
Automatable: no
Technical impact: total
Assessed: 4 mo ago (2026-06-15)

Exploit prediction

0.20% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 9% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-08).

CVSS scores

assigned by	version	score	vector
CNA	4.0	7.6	CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
CNA	3.1	8.3	CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L
CNA	4.0	7.6	CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
NVD	3.1	8.1	CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
GitHub	3.1	7.1	CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L

Affected packages

ecosystem	package	affected	fixed in
npm	openclaw	<2026.5.18	2026.5.18

Affected products

OpenClaw OpenClaw

Classification

Weakness

CWE-367 Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition
CWE-200 Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
CWE-284 Improper Access Control
CWE-78 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command

References

github.com /openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-mhq8-78pj-5j79
vendor-advisory, web, mitigation
vulncheck.com /advisories/openclaw-arbitrary-file-read-via-shell-expansion-in-system-run-safe-bin-allowlist
third-party-advisory, web
nvd.nist.gov /vuln/detail/CVE-2026-53831
advisory
github.com /openclaw/openclaw
package

Sources

Fencer Vulns keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.

Summary