CVE-2026-53806: OpenClaw < 2026.5.12 - Shell Option Parsing Bypass in Exec Revalidation

Severity: high (CVSS 8.8 v3.1)
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 0.4% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2026-06-11 · updated 2026-06-17
Weakness: CWE-367

Description

OpenClaw before 2026.5.12 contains a shell option parsing vulnerability that allows combined POSIX shell flags to bypass exec revalidation checks. Attackers can exploit this by using combined shell options to execute inline shell content without intended allowlist validation, potentially enabling unauthorized command execution when the affected feature is enabled.

Affected products

OpenClaw: before 2026.5.12 — fixed in 2026.5.12

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: OpenClaw 2026.5.12. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-vxx3-6hc9-7cc3
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-shell-option-parsing-bypass-in-exec-revalidation

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