Staging Environment: Content and features may be unstable or change without notice.
Advisory details: github_osv / GHSA-v2ww-5rh7-2h5v
Advisory ID github_osv/GHSA-v2ww-5rh7-2h5v
Aliases CVE-2026-53853
Summary OpenClaw: Linux and macOS exec allowlists skipped configured argument patterns ### Summary OpenClaw's exec allowlist supported optional `argPattern` entries to restrict the arguments accepted for an allowlisted executable. In affected releases, Linux and macOS gateways skipped `argPattern` checks and treated a matching executable path as sufficient to satisfy the allowlist. This meant an operator could configure an allowlist entry that appeared to permit only a narrow argv shape, but OpenClaw would allow other argv for the same executable without an approval prompt when `tools.exec.security` was set to `allowlist`. This issue is limited to direct enforcement of configured `argPattern` values. OpenClaw's exec approvals remain best-effort guardrails and do not attempt to semantically model every interpreter, loader, package script, shell feature, or transitive file a command may use. ### Affected configurations This affects OpenClaw gateway deployments that meet all of these conditions: - the gateway runs on Linux or macOS - exec is configured with `tools.exec.security: "allowlist"` - at least one exec allowlist entry uses `argPattern` - the allowlisted executable accepts security-relevant arguments or flags Path-only allowlist entries are not additionally affected by this issue, because those entries intentionally allow any arguments for the matched executable. Windows was not affected by this specific bug because the affected code path already applied `argPattern` checks on Windows. ### Impact If an untrusted or lower-trust sender can influence a tool-enabled agent to call exec, they may be able to run disallowed arguments for an executable that the operator intended to restrict with `argPattern`. Depending on the executable, those arguments can cause host-side file access, network access, or command execution that should have required an approval prompt. The practical impact depends on the operator's allowlist and channel exposure. Examples of higher-risk allowlisted executables include tools with interpreter, loader, subprocess, network, or plugin flags such as `git`, `python`, `node`, `bash`, `find`, `tar`, and `ssh`. This is not a bypass of all exec approval semantics. It is a bypass of the direct `argPattern` predicate that the operator configured and that the exec tool description advertised as enforced at runtime. ### Patched Versions The first stable patched version is `2026.5.12`. ### Mitigations Upgrade to `openclaw@2026.5.12` or later. Before upgrading, operators who use exec allowlist mode should review entries that combine an executable path with `argPattern`, especially for interpreter-like or subprocess-capable tools.
Status Published
Exploitability 0.5
Weighted Severity 6.4
Risk 3.2
Affected and Fixed Packages Package Details
Introduced and Fixed Package Commit Patches Package Commit Patches Details
Weaknesses (2)
CWE-693 Protection Mechanism Failure
CWE-863 Incorrect Authorization
System Score Found at
cvssv3.1 7.1 https://github.com/github/advisory-database/blob/main/advisories/github-reviewed/2026/06/GHSA-v2ww-5rh7-2h5v/GHSA-v2ww-5rh7-2h5v.json
generic_textual HIGH
Reference id Reference type URL
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw
CVE-2026-53853 https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-53853
GHSA-v2ww-5rh7-2h5v Advisory https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-v2ww-5rh7-2h5v
openclaw-argument-pattern-bypass-in-exec-allowlist-via-linux-and-macos Advisory https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-argument-pattern-bypass-in-exec-allowlist-via-linux-and-macos
No exploits are available.

No EPSS data available for this advisory.

Patch URL
There are no known patches.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L Found at https://github.com/github/advisory-database/blob/main/advisories/github-reviewed/2026/06/GHSA-v2ww-5rh7-2h5v/GHSA-v2ww-5rh7-2h5v.json
Attack Vector (AV) Attack Complexity (AC) Privileges Required (PR) User Interaction (UI) Scope (S) Confidentiality Impact (C) Integrity Impact (I) Availability Impact (A)

network

adjacent_network

local

physical

low

high

none

low

high

none

required

unchanged

changed

high

low

none

high

low

none

high

low

none

Vector: SSVCv2/E:N/A:N/T:T/P:M/B:A/M:M/D:T/2026-06-16T18:44:30Z/

Decision: Track

Source URL: https://github.com/cisagov/vulnrichment/blob/develop/2026/53xxx/CVE-2026-53853.json

Source Advisory: vulnrichment/CVE-2026-53853

View SSVC decision tree 
[{'Exploitation': 'none'},
 {'Automatable': 'no'},
 {'Technical Impact': 'total'},
 {'Mission Prevalence': 'minimal'},
 {'Public Well-being Impact': 'material'},
 {'Mission & Well-being': 'medium'}]