CVE-2026-28470Network attack vector

Arbitrary command execution via quoted command substitution

Published Mar 5, 2026 · Updated Mar 5, 2026

OS command injection in OpenClaw before 2026.2.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands through exec approvals. The exec-approvals shell parser treats unescaped dollar-parenthesis and backtick operators inside double-quoted strings as ordinary argument text, allowing an approved command to invoke unauthorized substitutions. Exploitation requires the optional exec approvals allowlist to be enabled; default installations are unaffected, while exposed setups execute commands with the Gateway process's privileges.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.47%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

OS command injection in OpenClaw before 2026.2.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands through exec approvals. The exec-approvals shell parser treats unescaped dollar-parenthesis and backtick operators inside double-quoted strings as ordinary argument text, allowing an approved command to invoke unauthorized substitutions. Exploitation requires the optional exec approvals allowlist to be enabled; default installations are unaffected, while exposed setups execute commands with the Gateway process's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-28470
Published
Mar 5, 2026
Updated
Mar 5, 2026
Vendor
OpenClaw Foundation
Product
OpenClaw
Classifications
CWE-78, T1059
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 5, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 5, 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <2026.2.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

OpenClaw Foundation · OpenClawversion=0 <2026.2.2

Published CVSS scores

9.8VulnCheckCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.2VulnCheckCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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