Command Injection in OpenClaw before 2026.5.18

Publication date: 2026-06-12

Last updated on: 2026-06-16

Assigner: VulnCheck

Description

OpenClaw before 2026.5.18 contains a command injection vulnerability where shell wrapper argv could change between approval and execution. Attackers can rebuild command arguments after allowlist approval to execute unapproved command shapes, potentially bypassing security controls.

CVSS Scores

EPSS Scores

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Meta Information

Published

2026-06-12

Last Modified

2026-06-16

Generated

2026-07-03

AI Q&A

2026-06-13

EPSS Evaluated

2026-07-02

NVD

CVE-2026-53822

EUVD

EUVD-2026-36610

Affected Vendors & Products

Vendor	Product	Version / Range
openclaw	openclaw	to 2026.5.18 (exc)

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE

KEV

CWE ID	Description
CWE-367	The product checks the state of a resource before using that resource, but the resource's state can change between the check and the use in a way that invalidates the results of the check.
CWE-77	The product constructs all or part of a command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended command when it is sent to a downstream component.

Attack-Flow Graph

Executive Summary

This vulnerability exists in OpenClaw versions before 2026.5.18 and is a command injection flaw. It occurs because the shell wrapper arguments (argv) can be altered between the time they are approved by an allowlist and when they are actually executed. This means an attacker can modify the command arguments after they have been approved, allowing them to execute commands that were not originally permitted, effectively bypassing security controls.

Impact Analysis

The impact of this vulnerability is significant because it allows attackers to execute unauthorized commands on the affected system. This can lead to a compromise of system integrity, unauthorized access, and potentially full control over the system. Since the vulnerability bypasses allowlist security controls, it undermines the trust in command execution restrictions, increasing the risk of malicious activities.

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