High

OpenClaw macOS Remote/SSH mode command injection

IdentifiersCVE-2026-25157CWE-78· Improper Neutralization of Special…

CVE-2026-25157 is an OS command injection vulnerability in OpenClaw prior to version 2026.1.29, affecting the macOS menubar application's Remote/SSH mode. Two related flaws are described. First, the sshNodeCommand function generated a shell script that did not properly escape a user-controlled Project Root Path when constructing an error message. If the generated cd command failed, the unescaped project path was interpolated into an echo statement, enabling arbitrary command execution on the remote SSH host. Second, parseSSHTarget failed to reject SSH target strings beginning with a dash, allowing attacker-supplied values such as -oProxyCommand=... to be interpreted by ssh as command-line options rather than a hostname, which could trigger arbitrary command execution on the local machine. The issue was patched in OpenClaw 2026.1.29.

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ANALYST BRIEF

Impact, mitigation & remediation

What it means. What to do now. Patch path, mitigations, and the assume-compromise checklist.

Impact

What an attacker gets, and what they’ve been doing with it.

Successful exploitation can result in arbitrary command execution in two contexts: on the remote SSH host via injection through the Project Root Path handling in sshNodeCommand, and on the local machine via SSH option injection through parseSSHTarget. Depending on the privileges of the OpenClaw process and SSH session, this can lead to full compromise of the affected workstation and/or remote host, access to sensitive files and credentials, persistence, and lateral movement.

Mitigation

If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.

Until patched, avoid using the macOS menubar application's Remote/SSH mode with untrusted or externally supplied SSH targets, host definitions, or project root paths. Do not import connection settings from untrusted sources. Enforce input validation so SSH target strings cannot begin with '-' and constrain project root paths to expected safe values. Where possible, use Local mode or unaffected clients instead of the vulnerable macOS Remote/SSH workflow.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Upgrade OpenClaw to version 2026.1.29 or later. Ensure the macOS menubar application is updated to a build containing the fix. The vulnerable code paths should escape or avoid shell interpolation of user-controlled project paths and strictly validate SSH target strings so they cannot be interpreted as ssh flags or options.

PUBLIC EXPLOITS

Exploits

No valid public exploits. Mallory filtered out 1 candidate as fakes, detection scripts, or README-only repos.

VALID 0 / 1 TOTALView more in app

All candidate exploits were filtered out by Mallory's validation.

EXPOSURE SURFACE

Affected products & vendors

Products and vendors Mallory has correlated with this vulnerability. Open in Mallory to drill down to specific CPE configurations and version ranges.

VendorProductType

OpenclawClawdbotapplication

OpenclawOpenclawapplication

Vendor-confirmed product mapping. Mallory continuously reconciles this list against your asset inventory.

ACTIVITY FEED

Recent activity

12 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.

12 SOURCESView more in app

cyberthroneNews

Mar 18, 2026

OpenClaw: The Open-Source AI Agent Rewriting the Threat Landscape - TheCyberThrone

One of several additional OpenClaw vulnerabilities mentioned as part of a broader stack of moderate- to high-severity flaws affecting the platform.

dark readingNews

Mar 2, 2026

Critical OpenClaw Vulnerability Exposes AI Agent Risks

Unknown (referenced as part of a set of OpenClaw security issues; details not provided in the content).

the hacker newsNews

Feb 28, 2026

ClawJacked Flaw Lets Malicious Sites Hijack Local OpenClaw AI Agents via WebSocket

One of several recently disclosed OpenClaw vulnerabilities, ranging from moderate to high severity, that could lead to serious impacts such as remote code execution, command injection, SSRF, authentication bypass, or path traversal.

cyber security newsNews

Feb 10, 2026

15,200 OpenClaw Control Panels with Full System Access Exposed to Internet

A command injection vulnerability in the OpenClaw macOS application’s SSH handling, enabling arbitrary command execution via crafted/malicious project paths.

What this page doesn’t show

The version that knows your environment.

This page is what’s public. Mallory adds the parts that aren’t: which of your assets are affected, which adversaries are exploiting it right now, which detections to deploy, and what to do tonight.

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Exposure mapping

Query your assets running an affected version, and investigate the blast radius.

Threat actor evidence

Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.

Associated malware

Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.

Detection signatures

YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.

Vendor-by-vendor mapping

Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.

Social activity8

Community discussion across Reddit, Mastodon, and other social sources.

EXTERNAL REFERENCES

MITRE CVE

cve.org · CVE-2026-25157

NVD

nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-25157

MITRE CWE · CWE-78

Improper Neutralization of Special Elements…

Vendor Advisory

github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-q284-4pvr-m585