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OpenClaw EUVDEUVD-2026-27279

| CVE-2026-43534 CRITICAL
Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity (CWE-345)
2026-05-05 VulnCheck
9.3
CVSS 4.0 · NVD
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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Identify exposed OpenClaw hook endpoint
  2. Delivery
    Craft malicious webhook with system-reserved hook name
  3. Exploit
    Send HTTP POST to hook handler
  4. Execution
    Trigger unsanitized enqueue as trusted event
  5. Persist
    Agent runtime executes with elevated context
  6. Impact
    Achieve privilege escalation in agent operations

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A08:2025 - Software or Data Integrity Failures
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Data authenticity verification
Exploitation Conditions

Requires OpenClaw deployment with external webhook endpoints exposed and configured to accept agent hook events. The gateway hook request handler (src/gateway/server/hooks.ts) must be active and processing incoming HTTP requests from untrusted networks. Specifically, the 'dispatchAgentHook' function must be reachable via network routes accessible to the attacker. Does NOT require authentication (PR:N in CVSS vector confirms). Does NOT require user interaction (UI:N). Does NOT require non-default configuration of the hook dispatch mechanism itself - the vulnerability exists in default behavior of versions <2026.4.10 when hook endpoints are enabled. Limiting factor: Many OpenClaw deployments may not expose webhook endpoints to public networks, instead using them only for internal service-to-service communication, which significantly reduces real-world attack surface. Exploitation is blocked if: (1) hook endpoints are bound to localhost/private networks only, (2) network firewalls prevent external access to hook ports, or (3) OpenClaw is deployed without webhook integration features enabled.

Impact

CVSS 9.3 reflects network-accessible, low-complexity attack requiring no authentication or user interaction (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N), with high confidentiality and integrity impact (VC:H/VI:H). However, real-world risk is constrained by deployment context. The vulnerability requires OpenClaw to be deployed with external hook endpoints exposed and actively processing webhook events - not a default configuration for all installations. EPSS data unavailable, but absence from CISA KEV and no public POC identified suggests limited in-the-wild targeting. SSVC factors: exploitation status is 'none' (no confirmed activity), automatable (yes - webhook payloads trivially scriptable), technical impact 'partial' (privilege escalation within agent context, not necessarily full system compromise). GitHub advisory GHSA-7g8c-cfr3-vqqr confirms technical details but does not indicate active exploitation. Priority for organizations running OpenClaw with external hook integrations; lower priority for sandboxed development environments or installations without webhook exposure. Key data gap: no public exploit demonstrates full attack chain from malicious hook to meaningful system compromise beyond context escalation.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

Attacker identifies externally-accessible OpenClaw hook endpoint and crafts malicious webhook payload with hook name 'System: admin override' containing embedded commands. OpenClaw's hook dispatcher processes this untrusted external input and enqueues it as a system event without sanitization or trust demotion. The agent runtime executes the event in elevated context, treating attacker-controlled metadata as trusted system instruction. Depending on agent configuration, this could trigger unauthorized actions, bypass policy controls, or manipulate agent decision-making. No public proof-of-concept exists, but attack complexity is low given webhook payloads are trivially scriptable HTTP POST requests.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Why: CRITICAL severity.
Patch available 0.0% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv2 – May 05, 2026

Remote unauthenticated trust boundary violation in OpenClaw npm package before 2026.4.10 allows attackers to escalate untrusted external hook input into trusted system events. By supplying malicious hook metadata, adversaries can inject arbitrary content into the agent context with elevated privileges, bypassing security boundaries intended to isolate external input from system-level operations. Vendor-released patch available (version 2026.4.10+), with no evidence of active exploitation or public exploit code at time of analysis.

Earlier versions of this analysis (1)
v1 May 05, 2026 - 12:19 CVSS 9.1

Input validation bypass in OpenClaw npm package (versions < 2026.4.10) enables remote unauthenticated attackers to inject malicious hook metadata that escalates to trusted system event context within the agent runtime. By supplying crafted hook names (e.g., 'System: override safety'), attackers can enqueue events that bypass agent trust boundaries and execute with elevated permissions. Patch available in version 2026.4.10. No evidence of active exploitation (not in CISA KEV) or public POC, though CVSS 9.1 reflects critical confidentiality and integrity impact with zero authentication barrier.

RemediationAI

Upgrade to OpenClaw 2026.4.10 or later (latest release 2026.4.14 confirmed to include fix per vendor advisory GHSA-7g8c-cfr3-vqqr). Patch implemented in commit e3a845bde5b54f4f1e742d0a51ba9860f9619b29 and pull request #64372 (https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/pull/64372). For npm installations, run 'npm update openclaw' to pull fixed version. If immediate upgrade is not feasible, compensating controls include: (1) Disable external hook endpoints entirely if not required for operations - eliminates attack surface but breaks webhook-dependent workflows. (2) Implement network-level filtering to restrict hook endpoint access to trusted IP ranges only - reduces exposure but requires accurate allowlisting and may break legitimate third-party integrations. (3) Deploy OpenClaw behind a reverse proxy with payload validation rules that reject hook names containing 'System:' prefixes or other reserved keywords - adds defense layer but may cause false positives and requires ongoing rule maintenance. All workarounds reduce functionality or operational flexibility; vendor patch is strongly preferred solution.

Affected VersionsENISA

OpenClaw 0 <2026.4.10

Affected Packages

npm openclaw fix: 2026.4.10

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in npm

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Technical ContextAI · show details

OpenClaw is an npm package implementing agent-based automation with an event-driven hook system. The vulnerability affects the gateway's hook dispatch mechanism (src/gateway/server/hooks.ts) which processes external webhook events and enqueues them as system events for agent execution. CWE-345 (Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity) applies: the system failed to validate the trust level of incoming hook metadata before passing it to the agent runtime. The affected code path (hooks.agent-trust.test.ts confirms) allowed externally-controlled hook names to be directly inserted into system event messages without sanitization or trust demotion. The patch introduces two controls: (1) sanitizeInboundSystemTags() to strip malicious content from hook names, and (2) explicit trusted:false marking on all agent hook system events. This follows a common pattern in multi-tenant systems where external input must be explicitly downgraded to prevent privilege escalation across trust boundaries.

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 9.3 CRITICAL
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Attack Requirements
None
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Vulnerable system: Confidentiality
High
Vulnerable system: Integrity
High
Vulnerable system: Availability
None
Subsequent system: Confidentiality
None
Subsequent system: Integrity
None
Subsequent system: Availability
None

Lifecycle Timeline

2
Analysis Updated
May 05, 2026 - 12:42 vuln.today
v2 - CVSS changed
CVSS changed
May 05, 2026 - 12:37 NVD
9.1 (CRITICAL) 9.3 (CRITICAL)

DescriptionCVE.org

OpenClaw before 2026.4.10 contains an input validation vulnerability that allows external hook metadata to be enqueued as trusted system events. Attackers can supply malicious hook names to escalate untrusted input into higher-trust agent context.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

CVE-2026-43534 is a critical remote vulnerability in the OpenClaw npm package that allows unauthenticated attackers to bypass security boundaries and inject arbitrary malicious content with elevated system privileges. Organizations using OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.4.10 face immediate risk of unauthorized system compromise, data manipulation, and lateral movement through compromised agent contexts. This requires urgent patching across all development and production environments.

Business Impact: Severe
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch. If immediate patching is impossible, implement network segmentation to restrict OpenClaw agent access to essential systems only, disable external hook functionality until patching is completed, and implement enhanced logging on all OpenClaw processes to detect exploitation attempts.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.0%
Top 97% exploitable
Data Quality
6 sources
Confidence: High

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.

SignalValue
Severity CRITICAL
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.0%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
CRITICAL severity
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision
Out-of-Cycle
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable
Yes
Human Impact
Very High
Technical Impact
Total

Priority Score

46
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +46
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Privilege escalation occurs when an attacker leverages flaws in access control mechanisms to gain permissions beyond what they were originally granted.

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CVE-2026-100530 HIGH POC
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CVE-2026-32056 HIGH POC
7.5 Mar 21

OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.22 contain a shell environment variable injection vulnerability in the system.run func

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