Critical

Orval: Import-time RCE via query-parameter default -> zod module-level template literal

  • Disclosed: 02.09.2026
  • Updated: 11.10.2026 10:22

Summary

Orval's zod schema generation emits the query-parameter default value as a module-level template literal (export const …Default = <default>;) without escaping ${ or the backtick. A default of the form v${<code>}w injects a live JavaScript expression evaluated when the generated zod schema module is imported, executing attacker-controlled code at import — no request or function call needed. Verified on Orval 8.19.0; survives default OpenAPI validation.

Details

ts
export const …Default = `v${globalThis.ORVPWN()}w`;   // ${...} = arbitrary JS expression, runs at import

Malicious input: a query parameter with a default of v${<attacker JS>}w. ${...} permits any JS expression.

Note: this is one of several default-bearing positions that reach the same unescaped zod template-literal sink; a single fix (escape default values) closes all of them, and a CNA may choose to consolidate the related reports.

PoC

reproduce.sh (+ make_spec.py) attached: generates the zod schema with default validation, bundles it, imports it, and shows a marker written at import. Verified on 8.19.0.

Impact

Code execution at import in any application that imports a zod schema module generated from an attacker-controlled or attacker-influenced OpenAPI description.

Suggested fix

Emit default values via a proper string-literal encoder (JSON.stringify, or escape backtick and ${ if a template literal must be used); never interpolate a spec value into a template literal. Apply to every default position. maintainer-report.txt make_spec.py reproduce.sh

Affected software

Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.

PlatformPackageVulnerable versionsFixed in
npm package orval < 8.21.0 8.21.0

References

CVSS score -
CVSS vector
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
Weakness (CWE)
CWE-1336
Platform
npm
Package
orval
Disclosed
02.09.2026
Updated
11.10.2026 10:22

Sources and licenses

OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-p4cg-3328-rvfg - CC BY 4.0

Vulnerability history: orval

All published vulnerabilities of this package (npm package), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.

All (12) in the archive
Total entries
12
First → latest
09.2026 09.2026
Without a fix
0
Exploited in attacks
0

Severity breakdown

  • Critical 11
  • High 1

Disclosures per year

  1. 2026: 12
Severity:
  1. Orval: Import-time RCE via query-parameter default -> zod module-level template literal this entry
    Critical CVE-2026-72716 < 8.21.0 8.21.0

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