CVE-2026-62202 in OpenClaw
Summary
by MITRE • 07/17/2026
OpenClaw versions 2026.6.1 before 2026.6.9 contain a privilege escalation vulnerability in isolated cron jobs that allows lower-trust callers to regain denied execution tools. Attackers can execute or persist actions beyond their intended authorization by leveraging misconfigured input paths in the affected cron feature.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/17/2026
The OpenClaw software suite version 2026.6.1 through 2026.6.8 contains a critical privilege escalation vulnerability that stems from improper handling of isolated cron jobs within the system architecture. This vulnerability specifically affects the execution context of automated tasks that should operate with restricted privileges but instead allow unauthorized access to elevated system capabilities.
The technical flaw manifests in the cron job execution mechanism where input paths are not properly validated or sanitized before being processed by the underlying execution framework. When cron jobs are scheduled to run in isolated environments, the system fails to enforce proper path validation checks that would normally prevent directory traversal or path injection attacks. This misconfiguration creates a scenario where malicious actors can manipulate the input parameters to redirect execution to unauthorized binaries or scripts with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it fundamentally undermines the security model of the isolated execution environment. Attackers who gain access to lower-privilege accounts can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary commands, establish persistence mechanisms, and potentially move laterally within the system infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because cron jobs are typically scheduled to run with elevated privileges for legitimate system maintenance tasks, making them prime targets for exploitation.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-78 and CWE-22 categories, representing command injection and path traversal weaknesses respectively. The attack vector follows patterns consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1543.003 (Create or Modify System Process: Systemd Service), as attackers can manipulate the cron execution environment to establish persistent access. The vulnerability essentially creates a backdoor through which attackers can bypass normal access controls that would typically prevent execution of privileged tools.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust input validation for all cron job parameters and ensuring proper path sanitization before any execution occurs. System administrators should immediately update to OpenClaw version 2026.6.9 or later, which includes patching mechanisms for the vulnerable cron job processing logic. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous cron job execution patterns and establish strict access controls for cron job scheduling privileges.
The root cause analysis reveals that this vulnerability stems from inadequate security hardening of automated execution frameworks within the software stack. Proper implementation of principle of least privilege should be enforced at all levels of the system, particularly in scheduled task execution environments where the potential for privilege escalation exists. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their automated task scheduling mechanisms to identify similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other components of their infrastructure.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of securing automated systems and highlights how seemingly minor configuration flaws can create significant security risks. The remediation process requires not only patching the immediate issue but also implementing broader security controls around automated execution environments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other system components.