CVE-2026-53853
Official description Straight from the sourceThe vendor's or NVD's own wording, published unedited. Authoritative, but often terse — it says what broke, rarely what to do.
NVD · uneditedOpenClaw before 2026.5.12 contains an argument pattern validation bypass in the exec allowlist that allows attackers to execute disallowed arguments for allowlisted executables on Linux and macOS systems. Attackers can bypass configured argPattern restrictions by directly invoking allowlisted executables with unrestricted arguments, potentially enabling unauthorized file access, network access, or command execution.
Technical summary Written by usOur analysis, written from the advisory, the CVSS vector and the affected-version data. It adds context the advisory leaves out, and never invents facts that are not in the source.
dbcve analysis · high confidenceOpenClaw before 2026.5.12 has a flaw in its exec allowlist where the argPattern restrictions can be bypassed by directly invoking allowlisted executables with unrestricted arguments on Linux and macOS. This allows attackers to circumvent configured argument limitations, potentially enabling unauthorized file access, network access, or arbitrary command execution.
Verify against the referenced sources before acting — the references below are authoritative for this CVE, this summary is not.
Affected products & versions What the vendor confirmedThe version ranges the vendor confirmed as vulnerable. If your version sits inside a range here, treat yourself as exposed until you have upgraded.
NVD · CPE data< 2026.5.12= 2026.5.12CVSS breakdown How the score is builtThe industry scoring standard. It rates how the flaw is reached, what it takes to exploit, and what an attacker gains — the score is derived from those, not the other way round.
From the vector- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L
Am I affected? How to checkSteps we derive from the advisory and the affected-version data, so you can decide whether this CVE reaches your setup. They are a guide, not a scan — your own configuration is the authority.
dbcve checksWork through these to decide whether this CVE applies to you.
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Check OpenClaw installation versionLocate the OpenClaw installation directory and identify the installed version (commonly found in version file, executable metadata, or package manager records)Affected if Installed version is less than 2026.5.12 or equals 2026.5.12
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Identify exec allowlist configurationSearch for configuration files related to exec allowlist (typically named allowlist.conf, exec_allowlist.json, or similar in config directories)Affected if Exec allowlist feature is configured and enabled in the environment
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Review argPattern restrictionsExamine the argPattern settings within the exec allowlist configuration to see what argument restrictions are defined for allowlisted executablesAffected if ArgPattern restrictions are defined but can be bypassed by directly invoking allowlisted executables with unrestricted arguments
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Assess allowlisted executable capabilitiesIdentify which executables are on the allowlist and evaluate whether they have capabilities for file access, network access, or command execution that could be exploitedAffected if Allowlisted executables include tools that can read files, make network requests, or execute commands when invoked directly with arbitrary arguments
A user is affected if OpenClaw version is 2026.5.12 or earlier AND the exec allowlist feature with argPattern restrictions is enabled, allowing bypass of argument controls through direct executable invocation.
Generated from the published advisory. Verify against your own configuration.
Remediation Closing itWhat it takes to close this. Where a vendor fix exists we point at it; where none exists we say so plainly, and can build one. Effort estimates are scoped from the advisory, not from your codebase.
From vendor data2026.5.12
Upgrade to OpenClaw version 2026.5.12 or later to obtain the argument validation fix. In the interim, review exec allowlist configurations, limit which executables are allowlisted, and monitor for suspicious execution patterns.
- Consultation3.0 h
- Implementation8.0 h
- Testing6.0 h
- Review / QA3.0 h
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Scan for this in your stack
Free · runs locallyCheck whether your project pulls in CVE-2026-53853 — or any other known-vulnerable package — straight from your lock files. Free and open source; it runs locally and uploads nothing.
References Go to the primary sourcePrimary sources — vendor advisories, patches and trackers. Where our summary and a reference disagree, the reference wins.
Primary sourcesPractitioner notes
ContributedPeer-ranked notes from engineers who’ve handled CVE-2026-53853 in production — separate from our analysis above.
The advisory tells you what broke. It rarely tells you what actually worked. If you’ve dealt with this one, that detail is what the next engineer is searching for.
- The version that genuinely resolved it — not the one the vendor claimed
- A config change or rule that shut the vector down
- A gotcha in the upgrade path that cost you an afternoon
No notes yet
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- Verified mitigations, workarounds, and config changes
- Version or environment caveats, and links to real fixes
- No weaponised exploit code, or anything meant to cause harm
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