# CVE-2026-16199: nextlevelbuilder GoClaw authorization bypass in ExecTool.Execute

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-16199-nextlevelbuilder-goclaw-authorization-bypass-in-exectool-execute  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-07-19. Updated: 2026-07-19  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-16199 · Severity: medium · CVSS 6.3 · Published 2026-07-19

GoClaw is a platform for deploying AI agent teams with security isolation. A security flaw allows authenticated users to bypass restrictions on high-risk commands by hiding them inside PowerShell-encoded instructions. This could allow an unauthorized user to execute sensitive administrative tools or access cloud resources that should be protected by the system's security gates.

Technologies: [Nextlevelbuilder GoClaw](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/goclaw). Vendors: [Nextlevelbuilder](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/nextlevelbuilder).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-16199 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-16199 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-16199?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 6.3, published 19 July 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Nextlevelbuilder GoClaw up to 3.13.3-beta.3.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-16199?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-16199 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-16199?** Check whether you run Nextlevelbuilder GoClaw at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

An improper authorization vulnerability exists in the ExecTool.Execute function within goclaw/internal/tools/credentialed_exec.go. The system implements a 'Secure-CLI Gate' designed to intercept and validate high-risk binaries against a grant store. However, the wrapper-unwrapping logic in collectGateCandidates() only recognizes POSIX-style shells (sh, bash, etc.) and fails to identify PowerShell (pwsh, powershell) wrappers. An attacker with RoleOperator privileges can use the -EncodedCommand flag to hide restricted binaries (like 'gh') from the security scanner, leading to unauthorized execution of credentialed tools. Proof-of-concept exploits have been published.

## Affected products

- nextlevelbuilder GoClaw up to 3.13.3-beta.3

## Timeline

- 2026-07-19: advisory: NVD publication date
- 2026-07-18: disclosed: Initial disclosure via VulDB and GitHub issues

## References

- [https://github.com/nextlevelbuilder/goclaw/](https://github.com/nextlevelbuilder/goclaw/)
- [https://github.com/nextlevelbuilder/goclaw/issues/1215](https://github.com/nextlevelbuilder/goclaw/issues/1215)
- [https://github.com/nextlevelbuilder/goclaw/issues/1215](https://github.com/nextlevelbuilder/goclaw/issues/1215)
- [https://vuldb.com/cve/CVE-2026-16199](https://vuldb.com/cve/CVE-2026-16199)
- [https://vuldb.com/submit/857621](https://vuldb.com/submit/857621)
- [https://vuldb.com/vuln/380015](https://vuldb.com/vuln/380015)
- [https://vuldb.com/vuln/380015/cti](https://vuldb.com/vuln/380015/cti)

## Related threats

- [nextlevelbuilder GoClaw Information Disclosure in jq Handler](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-18038-nextlevelbuilder-goclaw-information-disclosure-in-jq-handler)
- [nextlevelbuilder GoClaw SSRF in web_fetch component](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-16124-nextlevelbuilder-goclaw-ssrf-in-web-fetch-component)
- [nextlevelbuilder GoClaw authorization bypass in ToolsInvokeHandler](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-16123-nextlevelbuilder-goclaw-authorization-bypass-in)
- [nextlevelbuilder GoClaw authorization bypass in exec approval flow](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-16122-nextlevelbuilder-goclaw-authorization-bypass-in-exec-approval)
- [nextlevelbuilder GoClaw improper authorization in exec tool approval manager](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-16121-nextlevelbuilder-goclaw-improper-authorization-in-exec-tool)