OpenClaw < 2026.4.2 - Shell Positional Parameters Bypass in Inline-Eval Checks

published 2026-06-16 4 mo ago modified 2026-10-25 14 d ago also GHSA-5cj2-3jr2-5h77 , EUVD-2026-37157

cvss: 8.1; version 3.1, CNA
cisa kev: Not listed; not in CISA's catalog
epss: 0.3%; EPSS 0.3% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 17%
public exploits: 0; none known

OpenClaw before 2026.4.2 contains an inline-eval bypass vulnerability allowing authenticated operators to weaken strict allowlist checks via shell positional parameters. Attackers can combine allowlisted tools with shell positional arguments to place inline-eval content in shell carriers outside intended allowlist rules, enabling execution of unapproved shell-provided content.

Patch / fix

fixed in 2

npm openclaw 2026.4.2
OpenClaw OpenClaw 2026.4.2

CISA SSVC

Exploitation: none
Automatable: no
Technical impact: total
Assessed: 4 mo ago (2026-06-17)

Exploit prediction

0.26% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 17% 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:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
CNA	3.1	8.1	CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
CNA	4.0	7.6	CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/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
GitHub	3.1	8.1	CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N

Affected packages

ecosystem	package	affected	fixed in
npm	openclaw	<2026.4.2	2026.4.2

Affected products

OpenClaw OpenClaw

Classification

Weakness

CWE-184 Incomplete List of Disallowed Inputs
CWE-863 Incorrect Authorization
CWE-269 Improper Privilege Management
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-5cj2-3jr2-5h77
vendor-advisory, web
vulncheck.com /advisories/openclaw-shell-positional-parameters-bypass-in-inline-eval-checks
third-party-advisory, web
nvd.nist.gov /vuln/detail/CVE-2026-53855
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