External risk intelligence

Orval Code Generation Vulnerability Allows Code Execution

CVE advisorySeverity: CRITICAL (CVSS 9.3)

CVE-2026-62681

This vulnerability exists in a build-time development tool (Orval) that generates client-side code from API specifications. The vulnerable code is present in the developer's build environment or CI pipeline, not in a live, public-facing service. It is not reachable via the internet in normal runtime deployments.

Code Injection

Halo Surface Signal: 1 out of 5 — much less likely to be public-facing.

External exposure likelihood

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

A vulnerability in Orval, a tool for generating JavaScript clients, could allow for code execution. This occurs when an unescaped backtick in an OpenAPI path is processed, potentially leading to security risks within development or application environments.

Issue: Code execution risk in development tools.
Why remember: Impacts developer and build environments.
Executive takeaway: Confirm relevance to development processes.

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

An attacker could leverage a vulnerability in Orval, a tool used to generate JavaScript clients from API specifications, by supplying a malformed OpenAPI path. This path, when processed by Orval, can lead to the injection of unescaped characters into generated code. If this generated code is later executed in a developer's environment, such as during a build process or in testing, it could result in arbitrary code execution.

Vulnerable code exists in a build-time tool.
An unescaped backtick in an API path triggers it.
Risk is code execution in development environments.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

When Orval improperly handles unescaped backticks in OpenAPI paths, it can lead to the evaluation of attacker-controlled JavaScript. This could occur in developer, CI, test, or application environments where generated client code is invoked.

Developer or CI environments.
Unescaped backticks in API paths.
Code execution in affected environments.

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

This vulnerability impacts the code generation process, suggesting that development teams, CI/CD pipeline owners, or platform engineers are the primary points of contact. The first practical step is to identify all instances where Orval is used in the development and build lifecycle, assess if these environments are accessible to developers or CI systems, and then confirm the accountable owner for the build tooling and associated code generation processes before planning remediation.

Dev and platform teams own the issue.
Verify Orval usage in build pipelines.
Plan code generation environment updates.

Supplementary metadata

CVSS vector

Validate whether this threat affects your internet-facing exposure.

Halo Threat Intelligence helps prioritize remediation with Halo Surface Signal and H/A/L/O context. Start exposure validation with a free external attack surface trial.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Orval and how is it used?

Orval is a development tool that automates the creation of type-safe JavaScript and TypeScript client code. It processes API specifications, such as OpenAPI v3 or Swagger v2, to generate the boilerplate code needed for applications to interact with APIs. Developers use it to ensure their data-fetching logic, such as requests for axios or React Query, stays in sync with their API definitions during the build process.

What does CVE-2026-62681 mean for my code?

This vulnerability, classified as Improper Neutralization of Special Elements, involves the unsafe handling of backtick characters. When Orval generates code from an API path containing a backtick, it fails to encode it properly within template literals. This weakness allows arbitrary JavaScript to be injected into the generated output, which then executes whenever that specific piece of code is triggered in your development, testing, or build environment.

How is this Orval vulnerability triggered?

The flaw is triggered when Orval processes an API specification that contains an unescaped backtick within a path. It is important to note that this does not occur automatically at runtime in your production application; rather, the vulnerability is baked into the source code generated by Orval. The code execution happens when developers or automated systems run the contaminated files during build tasks, CI pipelines, or local execution.

Is my service at risk if Orval runs on a server?

According to Halo Surface Signal, this vulnerability is very unlikely to be reachable via the internet. Because the flaw exists within a build-time tool, it resides in your development workspace or CI/CD pipelines, not in a live, public-facing service. The risk is primarily to the integrity of your internal build environments and the machines used by your developers to generate client code.

How do I address this Orval security issue?

The most effective way to secure your environment is to update Orval to version 8.21.0 or later, which includes the necessary fixes for path handling. You should audit your build pipelines and local development configurations to identify where Orval is used. Once identified, upgrade the dependency in your package manager files and regenerate your client code to ensure that any previously compromised templates are replaced with safe, updated versions.

References

Written by Nicholas Merritt

Nicholas Merritt is VP of Security Solutions at Halo Security. With more than 25 years across application security, vulnerability prioritization, and offensive security, he helps teams translate threat data into practical exposure validation and remediation focus. He authors Halo Threat Intelligence CVE advisories using Halo Surface Signal and H/A/L/O context to prioritize internet-facing risk.