Unauthorized agent access via ambiguous Matrix identities
Published Mar 5, 2026 · Updated Mar 5, 2026
Authentication bypass in OpenClaw before 2026.2.2 allows remote attackers to reach the agent pipeline through Matrix direct messages. The channels.matrix.dm.allowFrom check matched attacker-controlled display names and bare MXID localparts after discarding the homeserver. The affected range starts at 2026.1.14-1, and exposure requires the optional Matrix plugin plus an allowlist containing a display name or bare localpart; downstream impact depends on enabled agent capabilities.
Summary
What happened
Authentication bypass in OpenClaw before 2026.2.2 allows remote attackers to reach the agent pipeline through Matrix direct messages. The channels.matrix.dm.allowFrom check matched attacker-controlled display names and bare MXID localparts after discarding the homeserver. The affected range starts at 2026.1.14-1, and exposure requires the optional Matrix plugin plus an allowlist containing a display name or bare localpart; downstream impact depends on enabled agent capabilities.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-28471
- Published
- Mar 5, 2026
- Updated
- Mar 5, 2026
- Vendor
- OpenClaw Foundation
- Product
- OpenClaw
- Classifications
- CWE-287, T1190
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Mar 5, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Mar 5, 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.
- Affected versionversion=2026.1.14-1 <2026.2.2
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
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.
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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