CVE-2026-100561
HighCVSS 8.0Exploitation Probability (EPSS)
Low risk14th percentile - higher than 14% of all known CVEs
Summary
OpenClaw (npm package 'openclaw') versions >= 2026.3.22 and < 2026.8.1 contain an approval-bypass flaw in the exec approval policy: the policy could trust a command-running wrapper without inspecting the command carried in its arguments. After an operator allowlisted or permanently approved a benign wrapper invocation, a later agent turn could substitute an arbitrary inner command and execute it with the OpenClaw process's host privileges without a further approval prompt.
Risk Assessment
An attacker could execute arbitrary commands with the host privileges of the OpenClaw process, potentially leading to full system compromise. Exploitation requires the relevant wrapper to resolve on the host and a prior operator decision allowing that wrapper.
Recommendation
Update OpenClaw to version 2026.8.1 or later. Review and restrict previously approved wrappers and avoid permanently approving wrapper invocations that can carry arbitrary commands.
Other vulnerabilities in OpenClaw
See all- CVE-2026-102807Medium
OpenClaw before 2026.9.4 contains an incorrect authorization vulnerability in the mcp.app.view method that allows read-scoped operators to execute MCP App tools requiring operator.write scope. Attackers with operator.read tokens can obtain a standalone ticket from mcp.app.view and redeem it at the MCP app view endpoint to invoke state-changing tools without proper authorization checks.
- CVE-2026-102806Medium
OpenClaw before 2026.9.5 contains an incorrect authorization vulnerability in the Gateway's local media root allowlist that breaks filesystem isolation between sandboxed sessions. Sandboxed sessions or untrusted content can cause the Gateway to read files from sibling session sandboxes or shared workspace directories through media pipeline functions that fail to restrict reads to the active session.
- CVE-2026-45006High
OpenClaw before version 2026.4.23 contains an improper access control vulnerability in the gateway tool's config.apply and config.patch operations, allowing compromised models to write unsafe configuration changes by bypassing an incomplete denylist protection.
- CVE-2026-45004High
OpenClaw before 2026.4.23 contains an arbitrary code execution vulnerability in the bundled plugin setup resolver that loads setup-api.js from process.cwd() during provider setup metadata resolution. Attackers can execute arbitrary JavaScript under the current user account by placing a malicious extensions/<plugin>/setup-api.js file in a repository.
- CVE-2026-45001High
OpenClaw before version 2026.4.20 contains a guard bypass vulnerability in the config.patch and config.apply endpoints. This vulnerability fails to protect operator-trusted settings such as sandbox policy, plugin enablement, gateway auth/TLS, and MCP server configuration.
- CVE-2026-44995High
OpenClaw before version 2026.4.20 contains an improper environment variable validation vulnerability in MCP stdio server configuration that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code. Malicious workspace configurations can pass dangerous startup variables to MCP server processes.
- CVE-2026-44118High
OpenClaw before version 2026.4.22 derives loopback MCP owner context from spoofable server-issued bearer tokens in request headers. Non-owner loopback clients can present themselves as owner to bypass owner-gated operations.
- CVE-2026-44115High
OpenClaw before version 2026.4.22 contains an exec allowlist analysis vulnerability allowing shell expansion hiding in unquoted heredoc bodies. Attackers can bypass allowlist validation by embedding shell expansion tokens in heredoc bodies to execute unapproved commands at runtime.
- CVE-2026-44114High
OpenClaw before version 2026.4.20 fails to properly reserve the OPENCLAW_ runtime-control environment namespace in workspace dotenv files, allowing attackers to override critical runtime variables. Malicious workspaces can set variables like OPENCLAW_GIT_DIR to manipulate trusted OpenClaw runtime behavior during source-update or installer flows.
- CVE-2026-44110High
OpenClaw before version 2026.4.15 contains an authorization bypass vulnerability in Matrix room control-command authorization. Attackers with DM-paired sender IDs can execute room control commands without being in configured allowlists.
Original NVD description (English source)
OpenClaw (npm package 'openclaw') versions >= 2026.3.22 and < 2026.8.1 contain an approval-bypass flaw in the exec approval policy: the policy could trust a command-running wrapper without inspecting the command carried in its arguments. After an operator allowlisted or permanently approved a benign wrapper invocation, a later agent turn could substitute an arbitrary inner command and execute it with the OpenClaw process's host privileges without a further approval prompt. Exploitation requires the relevant wrapper to resolve on the host and a prior operator decision allowing that wrapper. Transparent shell carriers and opaque utilities such as process monitors, tracers, namespace tools, and proxy wrappers were affected through related trust-resolution gaps. Fixed in 2026.8.1.
Vulnerability data from NVD (NIST) · CISA KEV · EPSS