CVE-2026-53816
OpenClaw before 2026.5.18 contains an insufficient provenance validation vulnerability in node event handling that allows paired nodes to forge exec lifecycle events without system.run authorization.
Does this matter?
High impact if exploited, but EPSS currently rates exploitation as unlikely (0.34%). Schedule it in the normal patch cycle and watch for a rise in EPSS or a public exploit.
Description
OpenClaw before 2026.5.18 contains an insufficient provenance validation vulnerability in node event handling that allows paired nodes to forge exec lifecycle events without system.run authorization. A malicious or compromised paired node can send crafted node.event messages to the gateway, steering target sessions into exec-event paths that expose capabilities the reduced node surface should not provide.
- CVSS 4.0
- 8.6 HIGHCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/M
- EPSS
- 0.34% probability · 27th percentile
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-862
- Affected
- openclaw/openclaw
- Source
- disclosure@vulncheck.com
References
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-3c6j-hq33-3jv4Mitigation, Vendor Advisory
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-exec-lifecycle-event-forgery-via-paired-nodeThird Party Advisory
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA. Refreshed daily.