---
title: "CVE-2026-72716: Orval: Import-time RCE via query-parameter default -> zod module-level template literal"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2026-72716/
description: "CVE-2026-72716 (orval (npm)): Orval generates type-safe JavaScript clients in TypeScript from OpenAPI v3 and Swagger v2 specifications. Prior to 8.21.0, a…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2026-08-19
date_modified: 2026-09-02
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2026-72716"
kev: false
cvss: 9.3
epss: 0.00653
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

# CVE-2026-72716: Orval: Import-time RCE via query-parameter default -> zod module-level template literal

**Signal:** Critical and remotely reachable. No known exploitation yet, but it is network-reachable without credentials. (Computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS; not an editorial verdict.)

## Should you act?

- Not in CISA KEV , but CISA’s SSVC assessment records a public proof-of-concept, so attack code exists.
- EPSS 0.7% , percentile 51: FIRST’s model estimates a 0.7% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 51% of all scored CVEs (moderate). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Remotely reachable with no login and no user interaction. If the vulnerable service is exposed to the internet, prioritize it.
- Only applies if your dependency tree includes orval (npm) < 8.21.0, fixed in 8.21.0 . Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.

## What it is

Orval generates type-safe JavaScript clients in TypeScript from OpenAPI v3 and Swagger v2 specifications. Prior to 8.21.0, a ${...} expression or backtick in a query parameter default is emitted into a module-level template literal emitted by zod schema generation without safe encoding. This permits attacker-controlled JavaScript to be evaluated when the generated zod schema module is imported, resulting in code execution in the developer, CI, test, or application environment. The affected code is packages/zod/src/index.ts function formatDefaultValue. This issue is fixed in version 8.21.0.

## Affected packages

- npm `orval` < 8.21.0 → fixed: 8.21.0

## Affected products (CVE record)

- orval-labs orval: < 8.21.0

## Severity

- GitHub_M CVSS 4.0: 9.3 `CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`
- GitHub CVSS 4.0: 9.3 `CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`

## Exploitation

- CISA KEV: not listed (no confirmed in-the-wild exploitation known to CISA).
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation poc , automatable yes , technical impact total .
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 0.65% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 51.

## Sources

- [GitHub Advisory GHSA-p4cg-3328-rvfg](https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-p4cg-3328-rvfg)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2026-72716](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-72716)
- [NVD entry CVE-2026-72716](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-72716)
- [github.com](https://github.com/orval-labs/orval/security/advisories/GHSA-p4cg-3328-rvfg)
- [github.com](https://github.com/orval-labs/orval/pull/3692)
- [github.com](https://github.com/orval-labs/orval/commit/8ef1bfdf3f9bcaf9dabfbe2e42887f1c0e159ab6)
- [github.com](https://github.com/orval-labs/orval/releases/tag/v8.21.0)

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Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2026-72716/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt