CVE-2026-22172Network attack vector

Authenticated scope elevation via unbound client declarations

Published Mar 20, 2026 · Updated Mar 20, 2026

Authorization bypass in OpenClaw 2026.3.11 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to perform admin-only gateway operations. The Gateway WebSocket connect path retained client-declared scopes, including operator.admin, for device-less shared-token or password-authenticated backend sessions instead of binding them to a device identity or trusted Control UI path. Possession of a configured shared token or password is required, and successful exploitation grants the session administrative gateway capabilities.

CVSS severity9.9
Critical
EPSS probability0.56%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authorization bypass in OpenClaw 2026.3.11 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to perform admin-only gateway operations. The Gateway WebSocket connect path retained client-declared scopes, including operator.admin, for device-less shared-token or password-authenticated backend sessions instead of binding them to a device identity or trusted Control UI path. Possession of a configured shared token or password is required, and successful exploitation grants the session administrative gateway capabilities.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-22172
Published
Mar 20, 2026
Updated
Mar 20, 2026
Vendor
OpenClaw Foundation
Product
OpenClaw
Classifications
CWE-269, CWE-862, T1068
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 20, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 20, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <2026.3.12

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

OpenClaw Foundation · OpenClawversion=0 <2026.3.12

Published CVSS scores

9.9OpenClawCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.4VulnCheckCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-269Improper Privilege Management
CWE-862Missing Authorization
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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