Local system-prompt injection via repository skill autoload
Published Jul 18, 2026 · Updated Jul 18, 2026
Prompt injection in Sipeed PicoClaw 0.2.0 through 0.2.9 allows local users to alter the agent's system prompt via a repository. When PICOCLAW_BUILTIN_SKILLS is unset, NewContextBuilder treats the process working directory's skills folder as built-in, and the loader copies SKILL.md metadata into the trusted skill catalog. Exploitation requires launching PicoClaw inside an attacker-controlled repository; injected instructions can influence planning, tool selection, and file access.
Summary
What happened
Prompt injection in Sipeed PicoClaw 0.2.0 through 0.2.9 allows local users to alter the agent's system prompt via a repository. When PICOCLAW_BUILTIN_SKILLS is unset, NewContextBuilder treats the process working directory's skills folder as built-in, and the loader copies SKILL.md metadata into the trusted skill catalog. Exploitation requires launching PicoClaw inside an attacker-controlled repository; injected instructions can influence planning, tool selection, and file access.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-16085
- Published
- Jul 18, 2026
- Updated
- Jul 18, 2026
- Vendor
- Sipeed
- Product
- PicoClaw
- Classifications
- CWE-829, CAPEC-698, T1204.002
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jul 18, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jul 18, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=0.2.0
- Affected versionversion=0.2.1
- Affected versionversion=0.2.2
- Affected versionversion=0.2.3
- Affected versionversion=0.2.4
- Affected versionversion=0.2.5
- Affected versionversion=0.2.6
- Affected versionversion=0.2.7
- Affected versionversion=0.2.8
- Affected versionversion=0.2.9
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Repository skill prompt-injection verification scriptsproof of concept · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
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