CVE-2026-25157 is a high-severity OS command injection vulnerability affecting OpenClaw, a personal AI assistant. Prior to version 2026.1.29, the sshNodeCommand function did not properly escape user input, specifically the project path. When an error occurred during the execution of a command, the unescaped path was directly embedded into an echo statement. This flaw allows an attacker to execute arbitrary commands on a remote SSH host. Additionally, the parseSSHTarget function failed to validate SSH target strings that began with a dash, enabling an attacker to inject malicious commands by exploiting SSH configuration flags.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 7.7, indicating a high level of severity. The attack vector for this vulnerability is local, meaning that an attacker needs local access to exploit the vulnerability. The attack complexity is high, and the exploitation requires user interaction. The potential impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability are all rated as high, emphasizing the critical nature of this vulnerability.
Organizations using OpenClaw must prioritize remediation, especially since this vulnerability can lead to severe consequences, including unauthorized command execution. The issue has been patched in version 2026.1.29, and it is crucial for users to upgrade to this version or later to mitigate risks.
Furthermore, as this vulnerability has not been included in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, organizations are advised to remain vigilant and implement additional security measures until they can confirm that remediation has taken effect.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability is classified under CWE-78, which pertains to OS command injection. It occurs in the OpenClaw product, specifically affecting all versions prior to 2026.1.29. The vulnerability was published on February 4, 2026, and has been analyzed, highlighting the need for immediate attention.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability is the improper handling of user-supplied input within the sshNodeCommand function, which constructs a shell script without proper escaping. As a result, the unescaped project path can be exploited during error handling of the cd command. Moreover, the parseSSHTarget function does not validate SSH target strings, allowing an attacker to manipulate input to execute arbitrary commands.
The attack vector is local, requiring the attacker to have access to the system where OpenClaw is running. The attack complexity is high, as it necessitates user interaction to initiate the command execution. Privileges required for exploitation are none, meaning that even unprivileged users could potentially exploit this vulnerability if they can manipulate the input parameters.
The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is significant, as successful exploitation can lead to complete control over the system, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary commands without restrictions.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Risk to organizations includes unauthorized command execution on both local and remote systems, potentially leading to data breaches or system compromises. The blast radius of exploitation could affect not just the individual systems running OpenClaw but also any connected infrastructure, making this a critical vulnerability to address.
Given the high CVSS score and the potential for significant impact, organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle. The urgency for remediation is high, and organizations must implement the necessary updates to safeguard against potential exploitation.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
All versions prior to 2026.1.29 are affected by this vulnerability. Users of OpenClaw should upgrade to the patched version to ensure protection against this command injection vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations must upgrade to OpenClaw version 2026.1.29 or later. If the patch cannot be immediately applied, consider implementing configuration hardening to restrict command execution capabilities and monitor logs for unusual activity. Further, organizations should enforce strict input validation and employ security testing practices to identify similar vulnerabilities in the future.
For comprehensive security assessments, organizations may consider engaging in penetration testing to identify and remediate vulnerabilities similar to CVE-2026-25157.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for indicators of exploitation, including unexpected command executions and modifications to SSH configurations. Behavioral anomalies may indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability, and network signatures should be established to detect unusual SSH traffic patterns.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2026-25157 lies in its demonstration of the risks associated with improper input handling within software applications. As organizations increasingly adopt AI-driven tools like OpenClaw, ensuring robust security measures becomes paramount. This vulnerability highlights the necessity for continuous security assessments and proactive threat modeling.
Security teams should implement a vulnerability management program to systematically identify, prioritize, and remediate vulnerabilities across their technology stack.
Furthermore, adopting best practices in penetration testing methodology can enhance the security posture of organizations using OpenClaw and similar applications.
To conclude, organizations should engage in AI security best practices to ensure that their implementations of AI systems are resilient against such vulnerabilities.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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