Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
-
AccessReconnect as previously paired node
-
DeliveryReconnect skips operator.admin re-pairing scope
-
ExploitReceive expanded exec-capable command set
-
ExecutionExecute privileged commands on local assistant
-
ImpactFull compromise of assistant host
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V8 - Authorization Authorization logic validation
MITRE ATT&CK
1 technique across 1 tactic: Privilege Escalation The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Exploitation Conditions | Exploitation requires that the attacker's node was PREVIOUSLY paired with the target OpenClaw instance and then reconnects - this stale pairing is the exact trigger, corresponding to CVSS 4.0 AT:P (attack requirement present) and PR:L (the paired node already holds some low-privilege scope). The attack vector is local (AV:L), so the attacker needs local reach to the assistant's pairing/reconnect channel on the host, not remote internet access. What limits exploitation: an attacker with no prior pairing cannot bypass initial pairing this way; the flaw only elevates scope for nodes already known to the system, and OpenClaw's trust model is a single-user local assistant with no multi-tenant boundary, so it is not remotely reachable in a default deployment. No user interaction is required (UI:N). |
| Impact | Signals are mixed and point to a genuine-but-narrow risk. The published CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N, VC:H/VI:H/VA:H, score 7.3 High) indicates local vector, low attacker privileges, an attack requirement present (AT:P - the attacker must be a previously paired node), and total technical impact - matching CISA SSVC's Technical Impact: Total. However, SSVC also records Exploitation: none and Automatable: no, and EPSS is only 0.02% (6th percentile), so widespread or automated exploitation is not expected. It is not KEV-listed and no POC is referenced, so this is not an urgent drop-everything item; the high score is driven by total local impact, not by ease or breadth of exploitation. The AT:P plus local-vector combination is the key limiter: an attacker cannot exploit this from nothing - they must already have been a paired node on the system. Treat as a meaningful local privilege/authorization boundary bug to patch promptly, not an externally-exposed RCE. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker who controls a node that had previously paired with a target OpenClaw instance (for example a returning client or a compromised prior-paired device on the same host) reconnects to the assistant. Because reconnect does not re-enforce the operator.admin scope, the node is granted exec-capable commands and runs privileged operations on the local assistant system. No public POC is referenced, and the local vector plus prior-pairing requirement (CVSS AV:L, AT:P) mean the attacker must already hold that foothold. |
Get an e-mail when this CVE is exploited, patched or re-scored. Free account.
Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Jul 24, 2026
Privilege escalation via authentication bypass in OpenClaw before 2026.4.8 allows a previously paired node to reconnect and gain an expanded, exec-capable command set without satisfying the operator.admin re-pairing scope check. Rooted in CWE-863 (incorrect authorization), the flaw lets an attacker who was once paired execute privileged commands on the local assistant host. There is no public exploit identified at time of analysis and it is not in CISA KEV; EPSS is very low at 0.02% (6th percentile), consistent with a local, precondition-dependent issue rather than an internet-wide threat.
RemediationAI
Upgrade to OpenClaw 2026.4.8 or later, which enforces the operator.admin re-pairing scope on node reconnect (Vendor-released patch: 2026.4.8; verified fixed tree at commit d7c3210cd6f5fdfdc1beff4c9541673e814354d5). Update via npm to the 2026.4.8 package. If you cannot upgrade immediately, reduce exposure of the pairing surface: revoke and force re-pairing of previously paired nodes so no stale paired identity retains implicit exec scope, and restrict which hosts/processes can reach the OpenClaw pairing/reconnect listener (bind to loopback or a trusted local socket only) so only trusted local nodes can present as a returning node - the trade-off is that legitimate remote or cross-host nodes will then need to re-pair. Because OpenClaw is a single-user local assistant, also treat local account hygiene on the assistant host as a compensating control. Follow the vendor advisory at https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-5wj5-87vq-39xm for authoritative guidance.
Affected VersionsENISA
Affected Packages
Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)
Affects your stack
Affects 1 package in npm
Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.
Technical ContextAI · show details
OpenClaw is a user-controlled local AI assistant that pairs with client 'nodes' and gates sensitive, exec-capable command sets behind an operator.admin scope requirement enforced during (re-)pairing. The vulnerability is an authorization flaw (CWE-863, Incorrect Authorization): on reconnect, a node that had previously completed pairing is granted a broader command surface without being forced back through the operator/admin re-pairing path, so the scope check that should constrain exec-capable commands is effectively skipped. The affected component is the npm package 'openclaw' (CPE cpe:2.3:a:openclaw:openclaw). Per the vendor GHSA advisory (GHSA-5wj5-87vq-39xm), this is scoped strictly to OpenClaw's single-user local trust model and does not assume a multi-tenant service boundary, which bounds the realistic blast radius.
Know when Openclaw gets its next vulnerability
- Watch products and get an email when something new is published
- Check this CVE against your own stack and servers
- Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
No credit card · 7-day full trial
Severity by source
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
Local vector plus the prior-pairing precondition map to AV:L and AC:H; a paired node holds limited scope so PR:L; total local impact gives C/I/A:H with no scope change.
Primary rating from NVD.
CVSS VectorNVD
Lifecycle Timeline
3DescriptionCVE.org
OpenClaw before 2026.4.8 contains a privilege escalation vulnerability allowing previously paired nodes to reconnect with exec-capable commands without operator.admin scope requirement. Attackers can bypass re-pairing authentication to execute privileged commands on the local assistant system.
Executive ViewAI
OpenClaw versions before 2026.4.8 allow previously paired nodes to reconnect and execute administrative commands without re-authentication, creating risk of unauthorized control over local assistant systems. Organizations using OpenClaw should prioritize deployment of the available patch to close this authorization bypass.
Vendor-released patch: OpenClaw 2026.4.8
Threat Intelligence Overview
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
Authentication bypass attacks exploit flaws in the verification mechanisms that control access to systems and applications.
Privilege escalation occurs when an attacker leverages flaws in access control mechanisms to gain permissions beyond what they were originally granted.
Auth bypass in OpenClaw voice-call extension before 2026.2.1. EPSS 0.68%. PoC and patch available.
Privilege escalation in OpenClaw (pre-2026.3.28) allows unauthenticated remote attackers to gain administrative access b
OpenClaw versions 2026.2.22 through 2026.2.24 contain a privilege escalation vulnerability that allows authenticated att
An authorization mismatch vulnerability in OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.3.1 allows authenticated users with operator.
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.1.29 automatically establish WebSocket connections to attacker-controlled gateway URLs e
Path traversal in OpenClaw through version 2026.3.23 enables unauthenticated remote attackers to read arbitrary files in
Authentication bypass in OpenClaw before 2026.5.3 allows remote attackers with low privileges to receive agent responses
Directory-context bypass in OpenClaw before 2026.8.1 allows authenticated attackers with user interaction to reuse an 'a
Unauthenticated access to the noVNC observer interface in OpenClaw's Docker sandbox browser allows anyone who can reach
OpenClaw versions before 2026.2.26 allow authenticated attackers to write arbitrary files outside the workspace director
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.22 contain a shell environment variable injection vulnerability in the system.run func
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.22 contain a resource exhaustion vulnerability where the application fails to consiste
EUVD-2026-26134
GHSA-5wj5-87vq-39xm
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
Vulnrichment
VulDB
Exploit-DB