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CVE-2026-53836 — Vulnerability in openclaw — CVE Details

HIGH

OpenClaw: PowerShell encoded-command aliases could miss exec allowlist checks

Published July 2, 2026Updated August 26, 2026Source: osv

Summary

### Summary PowerShell encoded-command aliases could miss exec allowlist checks. In affected versions, a command request using abbreviated encoded-command flags could use an alias form not recognized by the allowlist parser. 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 encoded PowerShell content without the intended allowlist decision. 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 `2026.5.12`. ### Mitigations Avoid allowlisting PowerShell wrapper forms and require approval for encoded 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 August 26, 2026 — 54 days after initial publication.

Remediation

Upgrade to the fixed version using your package manager.

npm
Update openclaw to 2026.5.12 or later
npm install openclaw@2026.5.12

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 versions2026.5.12

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
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-53836?
OpenClaw: PowerShell encoded-command aliases could miss exec allowlist checks 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-2026-53836?
CVE-2026-53836 affects openclaw. Use GeekWala's free vulnerability scanner to check your dependencies against CVE-2026-53836 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-j472-gf56-x589

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