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CVE-2026-53822 — Vulnerability in Openclaw — CVE Details

HIGH

OpenClaw: Shell wrapper argv could change between approval and execution

Published July 2, 2026Updated July 8, 2026Source: osv

Summary

### Summary Shell wrapper argv could change between approval and execution. In affected versions, a command request using a shell wrapper form could approve one resolved argv shape and rebuild another for execution. This advisory is scoped to the named feature and configuration. It does not change OpenClaw's trusted-operator model: authenticated Gateway operators, installed plugins, and intentional local execution surfaces remain trusted unless a separate policy, approval, allowlist, sandbox, or auth boundary is crossed. ### Impact When the affected feature is enabled and reachable, this could run a command shape that was not checked against the allowlist. Practical impact depends on the operator's configuration and whether lower-trust input can reach that path. ### Patched Versions The first stable patched version is `2026.5.18`. ### Mitigations require explicit approval for shell wrappers and avoid durable allowlists for wrapper-heavy commands until patched. As general hardening, keep channel and tool allowlists narrow, avoid sharing one Gateway between mutually untrusted users, and disable the affected feature when it is not needed.

Advisory Timeline

  • First published July 2, 2026 (102 days ago).
  • Last revised July 8, 2026 — 6 days after initial publication.

Remediation

Upgrade to the fixed version using your package manager.

npm
Update Openclaw to 2026.5.18 or later
npm install Openclaw@2026.5.18

After upgrading, run your dependency scanner again to confirm the vulnerability is resolved.

Affected Packages (1)

Affects 1 ecosystem: npm (1).

PackageEcosystemAffectedFixed In
Openclaw
npm
All versions2026.5.18

Vulnerability Classification

Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) identifiers for this vulnerability type.

CVSS Score Breakdown

What the CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) 8.8 score means for each attack dimension.

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
—
Confidentiality
—
Integrity
—
Availability
—

CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-53822?
OpenClaw: Shell wrapper argv could change between approval and execution This vulnerability has been assigned a severity rating of HIGH (CVSS score: 8.8/10).
How do I check if my project is affected by CVE-2026-53822?
CVE-2026-53822 affects Openclaw. Use GeekWala's free vulnerability scanner to check your dependencies against CVE-2026-53822 and 200,000+ other known vulnerabilities.

Severity & Exploitability

CVSS Score
8.8

High exploitability or significant impact. Prioritize remediation within days.

Also Known As

GHSA-2j8v-hwgc-x698

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