CVE-2026-53861
OpenClaw < 2026.5.6 - Allowlist Bypass via Combined POSIX Inline Flags on macOS
OpenClaw before 2026.5.6 contains an allowlist bypass vulnerability in the macOS Swift exec feature that misses combined POSIX inline-command flags. Attackers can execute shell content outside the intended allowlist check by using combined flag forms, potentially allowing unauthorized command execution depending on operator configuration.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- Passive
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
5.3
OpenClaw < 2026.5.6 - Allowlist Bypass via Combined POSIX Inline Flags on macOS
OpenClaw before 2026.5.6 contains an allowlist bypass vulnerability in the macOS Swift exec feature that misses combined POSIX inline-command flags. Attackers can execute shell content outside the intended allowlist check by using combined flag forms, potentially allowing unauthorized command execution depending on operator configuration.
- Record
CVE-2026-53861- CVSS 4.0
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - CVSS 3.1
- 6.6 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-184
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2026-37163
5.3
OpenClaw before 2026.5.6 contains an allowlist bypass vulnerability in the macOS Swift exec feature that misses combined POSIX inline-command flags. Attackers can execute shell content outside the intended allowlist check by using combined flag forms, potentially allowing unauthorized command execution depending on operator configuration.
- Record
EUVD-2026-37163- CVSS 4.0
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-c226-q6fx-6j6c
6.6
OpenClaw: macOS Swift exec allowlist missed combined POSIX inline flags
Summary
macOS Swift exec allowlist missed combined POSIX inline flags. In affected versions, a command request using combined POSIX inline-command flags could miss inline-command content expressed through combined flags.
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 shell content outside the intended allowlist check. 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 2026.5.6.
Mitigations
require approval for combined shell flag forms on macOS 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.
- Record
GHSA-c226-q6fx-6j6c- CVSS 3.1
- 6.6 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-184
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-g796-jqmx-wf9q
5.3
Duplicate Advisory: macOS Swift exec allowlist missed combined POSIX inline flags
Duplicate Advisory
This advisory has been withdrawn because it is a duplicate of GHSA-c226-q6fx-6j6c. This link is maintained to preserve external references.
Original Description
OpenClaw before 2026.5.6 contains an allowlist bypass vulnerability in the macOS Swift exec feature that misses combined POSIX inline-command flags. Attackers can execute shell content outside the intended allowlist check by using combined flag forms, potentially allowing unauthorized command execution depending on operator configuration.
- Record
GHSA-g796-jqmx-wf9q- CVSS 4.0
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/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
- 6.6 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-184
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
5.3
OpenClaw before 2026.5.6 contains an allowlist bypass vulnerability in the macOS Swift exec feature that misses combined POSIX inline-command flags. Attackers can execute shell content outside the intended allowlist check by using combined flag forms, potentially allowing unauthorized command execution depending on operator configuration.
- Record
CVE-2026-53861- CVSS 4.0
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/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
- 6.6 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A: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-184
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
5.3
OpenClaw < 2026.5.6 - Allowlist Bypass via Combined POSIX Inline Flags on macOS
OpenClaw before 2026.5.6 contains an allowlist bypass vulnerability in the macOS Swift exec feature that misses combined POSIX inline-command flags. Attackers can execute shell content outside the intended allowlist check by using combined flag forms, potentially allowing unauthorized command execution depending on operator configuration.
- Record
CVE-2026-53861- CVSS 4.0
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-184
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-c226-q6fx-6j6c
6.6
OpenClaw: macOS Swift exec allowlist missed combined POSIX inline flags
Summary
macOS Swift exec allowlist missed combined POSIX inline flags. In affected versions, a command request using combined POSIX inline-command flags could miss inline-command content expressed through combined flags.
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 shell content outside the intended allowlist check. 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 2026.5.6.
Mitigations
require approval for combined shell flag forms on macOS 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.
- Record
GHSA-c226-q6fx-6j6c- CVSS 3.1
- 6.6 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-184
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-g796-jqmx-wf9q
5.3
Duplicate Advisory: macOS Swift exec allowlist missed combined POSIX inline flags
Duplicate Advisory
This advisory has been withdrawn because it is a duplicate of GHSA-c226-q6fx-6j6c. This link is maintained to preserve external references.
Original Description
OpenClaw before 2026.5.6 contains an allowlist bypass vulnerability in the macOS Swift exec feature that misses combined POSIX inline-command flags. Attackers can execute shell content outside the intended allowlist check by using combined flag forms, potentially allowing unauthorized command execution depending on operator configuration.
- Record
GHSA-g796-jqmx-wf9q- CVSS 4.0
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/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
- 6.6 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-184
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| affected | ||
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2026-53861 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.3) in Openclaw, published June 16, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.25%, the 16th percentile. Fixed in openclaw 2026.5.6.
References
github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-c226-q6fx-6j6c
vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-allowlist-bypass-via-combined-posix-inline-flags-on-macos
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-53861
github.com/advisories/GHSA-c226-q6fx-6j6c
github.com/advisories/GHSA-g796-jqmx-wf9q
github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2026/53xxx/CVE-2026-53861.json
github.com/openclaw/openclaw