---
title: "CVE-2026-28363: OpenClaw is vulnerable to validation bypass through GNU long-option abbreviations in allowlist mode"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2026-28363/
description: "CVE-2026-28363 (openclaw (npm)): In OpenClaw before 2026.2.23, tools.exec.safeBins validation for sort could be bypassed via GNU long-option abbreviations…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2026-02-27
date_modified: 2026-02-28
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2026-28363"
kev: false
cvss: 9.9
epss: 0.00646
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

# CVE-2026-28363: OpenClaw is vulnerable to validation bypass through GNU long-option abbreviations in allowlist mode

**Signal:** Critical, preconditions apply. Severe if exploited, but exploitation needs conditions that may not apply to you. (Computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS; not an editorial verdict.)

## Should you act?

- No confirmed exploitation. It is not in CISA’s KEV catalog and CISA’s SSVC assessment records no known exploitation. That can change quickly after a public write-up; re-check if you are affected.
- EPSS 0.6% , percentile 50: FIRST’s model estimates a 0.6% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 50% of all scored CVEs (moderate). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Needs an account (low (any account)). Exposure depends on who can log in.
- Only applies if your dependency tree includes openclaw (npm) < 2026.2.23, fixed in 2026.2.23 . Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.

## What it is

In OpenClaw before 2026.2.23, tools.exec.safeBins validation for sort could be bypassed via GNU long-option abbreviations (such as --compress-prog) in allowlist mode, leading to approval-free execution paths that were intended to require approval. Only an exact string such as --compress-program was denied.

## Affected packages

- npm `openclaw` < 2026.2.23 → fixed: 2026.2.23

## Affected products (CVE record)

- OpenClaw OpenClaw: < 2026.2.23

## Severity

- mitre CVSS 3.1: 9.9 `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`
- GitHub CVSS 3.1: 9.9 `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`

## Exploitation

- CISA KEV: not listed (no confirmed in-the-wild exploitation known to CISA).
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation none , automatable no , technical impact total .
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 0.65% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 50.

## Sources

- [GitHub Advisory GHSA-7977-c43c-xpwj](https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-7977-c43c-xpwj)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2026-28363](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-28363)
- [NVD entry CVE-2026-28363](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-28363)
- [github.com](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-3c6h-g97w-fg78)
- [github.com](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/3b8e33037ae2e12af7beb56fcf0346f1f8cbde6f)
- [github.com](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/releases/tag/v2026.2.23)

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Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2026-28363/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt