Description
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.14 contain an arbitrary file read vulnerability in the exec-approvals allowlist validation that checks pre-expansion argv tokens but executes using real shell expansion. Attackers with authorization or through prompt-injection attacks can exploit safe binaries like head, tail, or grep with glob patterns or environment variables to disclose files readable by the gateway or node process when host execution is enabled in allowlist mode.
Published: 2026-03-05
Score: 8.6 High
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: Arbitrary File Read
Action: Apply Patch
AI Analysis

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Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

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Tracking

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Advisories
Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-xvhf-x56f-2hpp OpenClaw exec approvals: safeBins could bypass stdin-only constraints via shell expansion
History

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description OpenClaw exec-approvals allowlist validation checks pre-expansion argv tokens but execution uses real shell expansion, allowing safe bins like head, tail, or grep to read arbitrary local files via glob patterns or environment variables. Authorized callers or prompt-injection attacks can exploit this to disclose files readable by the gateway or node process when host execution is enabled in allowlist mode. OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.14 contain an arbitrary file read vulnerability in the exec-approvals allowlist validation that checks pre-expansion argv tokens but executes using real shell expansion. Attackers with authorization or through prompt-injection attacks can exploit safe binaries like head, tail, or grep with glob patterns or environment variables to disclose files readable by the gateway or node process when host execution is enabled in allowlist mode.

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 18:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Thu, 05 Mar 2026 22:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description OpenClaw exec-approvals allowlist validation checks pre-expansion argv tokens but execution uses real shell expansion, allowing safe bins like head, tail, or grep to read arbitrary local files via glob patterns or environment variables. Authorized callers or prompt-injection attacks can exploit this to disclose files readable by the gateway or node process when host execution is enabled in allowlist mode.
Title OpenClaw < 2026.2.14 - Arbitrary File Read via Shell Expansion in Safe Bins Allowlist
First Time appeared Openclaw
Openclaw openclaw
Weaknesses CWE-78
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:openclaw:openclaw:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:*
Vendors & Products Openclaw
Openclaw openclaw
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 8.4, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

cvssV4_0

{'score': 8.6, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}


Subscriptions

Openclaw Openclaw
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: VulnCheck

Published:

Updated: 2026-04-21T02:43:28.827Z

Reserved: 2026-02-27T19:18:27.709Z

Link: CVE-2026-28463

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-03-09T17:48:31.457Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Modified

Published: 2026-03-05T22:16:19.127

Modified: 2026-04-08T14:16:27.497

Link: CVE-2026-28463

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-04-15T20:00:06Z

Weaknesses