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

> Attackers can bypass allowlist restrictions in OpenClaw on macOS to execute unauthorized shell commands via combined POSIX flags.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.3 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 16 Jun 2026
- **Updated:** 18 Jun 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-c226-q6fx-6j6c, MINI-948q-39gx-5gjj

## What is CVE-2026-53861?

CVE-2026-53861 is a medium-severity command injection vulnerability in Openclaw Openclaw, published on 16 Jun 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official 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.

Weakness: CWE-184 (Incomplete List of Disallowed Inputs)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-53861?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including openclaw. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `openclaw` | npm | All versions | 2026.5.6 |
| `openclaw` | npm | All versions | 2026.5.6 |

Products: Openclaw Openclaw.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-53861?

Upgrade openclaw to 2026.5.6 or later.

## Is CVE-2026-53861 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-53861 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Openclaw Openclaw

- [CVE-2026-28363](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-28363/): Security feature bypass in OpenClaw (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2026-30741](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-30741/): Code injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2026-33579](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-33579/): OpenClaw < 2026.3.28 - Privilege Escalation via Missing Caller Scope Validation in Device Pair Approval (critical 9.4)
- [CVE-2026-32922](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-32922/): OpenClaw < 2026.3.11 - Privilege Escalation via Unvalidated Scope in device.token.rotate (critical 9.4)
- [CVE-2026-32978](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-32978/): OpenClaw < 2026.3.11 - Approval Bypass via Unrecognized Script Runners (critical 9.4)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-53861 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-53861 is a medium-severity command injection vulnerability in Openclaw Openclaw, published on 16 Jun 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-53861 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- openclaw (npm): affected all versions; fixed in 2026.5.6
- openclaw (npm): affected all versions; fixed in 2026.5.6

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53861/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53861/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-53861
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-53861
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-53861

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53861/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.