Summary
Exec approvals allowlist bypass via command substitution/backticks inside double quotes.
Affected Packages / Versions
- Package:
openclaw(npm) - Affected:
<= 2026.2.1 - Fixed:
>= 2026.2.2
Fix Commit(s)
- d1ecb46076145deb188abcba8f0699709ea17198
Thanks @simecek for reporting.
Impact
Only affects setups that explicitly enable the optional exec approvals allowlist feature. Default installs are unaffected.
Untrusted input reaches a shell command, allowing arbitrary commands to run on the host. Typical impact: code execution in the application's environment.
CVE-2026-28470 has a CVSS score of 9.8 (High). The vector is network-reachable, no privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. A fixed version is available (2026.2.2); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
Remediation advice
Reject unescaped $() and backticks inside double quotes during allowlist analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2026-28470? CVE-2026-28470 is a high-severity OS command injection vulnerability in openclaw (npm), affecting versions < 2026.2.2. It is fixed in 2026.2.2. Untrusted input reaches a shell command, allowing arbitrary commands to run on the host.
- How severe is CVE-2026-28470? CVE-2026-28470 has a CVSS score of 9.8 (High). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
- Which versions of openclaw are affected by CVE-2026-28470? openclaw (npm) versions < 2026.2.2 is affected.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2026-28470? Yes. CVE-2026-28470 is fixed in 2026.2.2. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2026-28470 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2026-28470 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether CVE-2026-28470 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
- How do I fix CVE-2026-28470? Upgrade
openclawto 2026.2.2 or later.