CVE-2026-28391
Received Received - Intake

Command Injection in OpenClaw exec Requests Bypassing Allowlist

Vulnerability report for CVE-2026-28391, including description, CVSS score, EPSS score, affected products, exploitability, helpful resources, and attack-flow context.

Publication date: 2026-03-05

Last updated on: 2026-03-10

Assigner: VulnCheck

Description

OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.2 fail to properly validate Windows cmd.exe metacharacters in allowlist-gated exec requests (non-default configuration), allowing attackers to bypass command approval restrictions. Remote attackers can craft command strings with shell metacharacters like & or %...% to execute unapproved commands beyond the allowlisted operations.

CVSS Scores

EPSS Scores

Probability:
Percentile:

Meta Information

Published
2026-03-05
Last Modified
2026-03-10
Generated
2026-07-06
AI Q&A
2026-03-06
EPSS Evaluated
2026-07-05
NVD
EUVD

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 1 associated CPE
Vendor Product Version / Range
openclaw openclaw to 2026.2.2 (exc)

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE
CWE Icon
KEV
KEV Icon
CWE ID Description
CWE-78 The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command when it is sent to a downstream component.
CWE-184 The product implements a protection mechanism that relies on a list of inputs (or properties of inputs) that are not allowed by policy or otherwise require other action to neutralize before additional processing takes place, but the list is incomplete.

Attack-Flow Graph

AI Quick Actions

Instant insights powered by AI
Executive Summary

This vulnerability exists in OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.2, where the software fails to properly validate Windows cmd.exe metacharacters in allowlist-gated exec requests.

Because of this improper validation, attackers can bypass command approval restrictions by crafting command strings that include shell metacharacters such as & or %...%.

This allows remote attackers to execute commands that are not approved or intended by the allowlist, potentially leading to unauthorized actions.

Impact Analysis

The vulnerability can have a severe impact as it allows remote attackers to execute unapproved commands on the affected system.

This can lead to unauthorized system control, data compromise, or disruption of normal operations.

Given the high CVSS scores (9.2 in v4.0 and 9.8 in v3.1), the impact includes high confidentiality, integrity, and availability risks.

Compliance Impact

I don't know

Detection Guidance

I don't know

Mitigation Strategies

I don't know

Chat Assistant

Ask questions about this CVE
Hi! I’m here to help you understand CVE-2026-28391. Ask me anything about the vulnerability, its impact, or mitigation strategies.
0/70

EPSS Chart