CVE-2026-28470
OpenClaw < 2026.2.2 - Exec Allowlist Bypass via Command Substitution in Double Quotes
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.2 contain an exec approvals (must be enabled) allowlist bypass vulnerability that allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands by injecting command substitution syntax. Attackers can bypass the allowlist protection by embedding unescaped $() or backticks inside double-quoted strings to execute unauthorized commands.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
OpenClaw < 2026.2.2 - Exec Allowlist Bypass via Command Substitution in Double Quotes
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.2 contain an exec approvals (must be enabled) allowlist bypass vulnerability that allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands by injecting command substitution syntax. Attackers can bypass the allowlist protection by embedding unescaped $() or backticks inside double-quoted strings to execute unauthorized commands.
- Record
CVE-2026-28470- CVSS 4.0
- 9.2 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-78
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2026-9916
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.2 contain an exec approvals (must be enabled) allowlist bypass vulnerability that allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands by injecting command substitution syntax. Attackers can bypass the allowlist protection by embedding unescaped $() or backticks inside double-quoted strings to execute unauthorized commands.
- Record
EUVD-2026-9916- CVSS 4.0
- 9.2 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-3hcm-ggvf-rch5
OpenClaw has an exec allowlist bypass via command substitution/backticks inside double quotes
Summary
Exec approvals allowlist bypass via command substitution/backticks inside double quotes.
Affected Packages / Versions
- Package:
openclaw(npm) - Affected:
<= 2026.2.1 - Fixed:
>= 2026.2.2
Impact
Only affects setups that explicitly enable the optional exec approvals allowlist feature. Default installs are unaffected.
Fix
Reject unescaped $() and backticks inside double quotes during allowlist analysis.
Fix Commit(s)
- d1ecb46076145deb188abcba8f0699709ea17198
Thanks @simecek for reporting.
- Record
GHSA-3hcm-ggvf-rch5- CVSS 4.0
- 7.4 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-78, CWE-88
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.2 contain an exec approvals (must be enabled) allowlist bypass vulnerability that allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands by injecting command substitution syntax. Attackers can bypass the allowlist protection by embedding unescaped $() or backticks inside double-quoted strings to execute unauthorized commands.
- Record
CVE-2026-28470- CVSS 4.0
- 9.2 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/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 - CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-78
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
OpenClaw < 2026.2.2 - Exec Allowlist Bypass via Command Substitution in Double Quotes
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.2 contain an exec approvals (must be enabled) allowlist bypass vulnerability that allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands by injecting command substitution syntax. Attackers can bypass the allowlist protection by embedding unescaped $() or backticks inside double-quoted strings to execute unauthorized commands.
- Record
CVE-2026-28470- CVSS 4.0
- 9.2 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-78
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-3hcm-ggvf-rch5
OpenClaw has an exec allowlist bypass via command substitution/backticks inside double quotes
Summary
Exec approvals allowlist bypass via command substitution/backticks inside double quotes.
Affected Packages / Versions
- Package:
openclaw(npm) - Affected:
<= 2026.2.1 - Fixed:
>= 2026.2.2
Impact
Only affects setups that explicitly enable the optional exec approvals allowlist feature. Default installs are unaffected.
Fix
Reject unescaped $() and backticks inside double quotes during allowlist analysis.
Fix Commit(s)
- d1ecb46076145deb188abcba8f0699709ea17198
Thanks @simecek for reporting.
- Record
GHSA-3hcm-ggvf-rch5- CVSS 4.0
- 7.4 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-78, CWE-88
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
openclawnpm | before 2026.2.2 | 2026.2.2 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2026-28470 is a critical vulnerability (CVSS 9.2) in Openclaw, published February 17, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.55%, the 46th percentile. Fixed in openclaw 2026.2.2.
References
github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-3hcm-ggvf-rch5
vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-exec-allowlist-bypass-via-command-substitution-in-double-quotes
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-28470