CVE-2026-42423: OpenClaw < 2026.4.8 - strictInlineEval Approval Boundary Bypass via Approval-Timeout Fallback

Severity: high (CVSS 7.5 v3.1)
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 0.3% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2026-04-28 · updated 2026-06-17
Weakness: CWE-636

Description

OpenClaw before 2026.4.8 contains an approval-timeout fallback mechanism that bypasses strictInlineEval explicit-approval requirements on gateway and node exec hosts. Attackers can exploit this timeout fallback to execute inline eval commands that should require explicit user approval, circumventing the intended security boundary.

Affected products

OpenClaw: before 2026.4.8 — fixed in 2026.4.8

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: OpenClaw 2026.4.8. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/d7c3210cd6f5fdfdc1beff4c9541673e814354d5
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-q2gc-xjqw-qp89
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-strictinlineeval-approval-boundary-bypass-via-approval-timeout-fallback

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