CVE-2026-53861: OpenClaw < 2026.5.6 - Allowlist Bypass via Combined POSIX Inline Flags on macOS

Severity: critical (CVSS 9.8 v3.1)
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 0.2% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2026-06-16 · updated 2026-06-18
Weakness: CWE-184

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.

Affected products

OpenClaw: before 2026.5.6; 2026.5.6-beta1 — fixed in 2026.5.6

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: OpenClaw 2026.5.6. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-c226-q6fx-6j6c
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-allowlist-bypass-via-combined-posix-inline-flags-on-macos

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