CVE-2026-28472Network attack vector

Operator access via unvalidated authentication token presence

Published Mar 5, 2026 · Updated Mar 5, 2026

Authentication bypass in OpenClaw before 2026.2.2 allows remote attackers to gain operator access through the gateway WebSocket. The connect handler skips device identity when it tests for a nonempty auth.token instead of a validated shared-secret result. Exploitation requires a reachable gateway that authorizes connections through Tailscale without validating the shared secret; trusted-only network exposure removes the untrusted path.

CVSS severity9.2
Critical
EPSS probability0.35%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authentication bypass in OpenClaw before 2026.2.2 allows remote attackers to gain operator access through the gateway WebSocket. The connect handler skips device identity when it tests for a nonempty auth.token instead of a validated shared-secret result. Exploitation requires a reachable gateway that authorizes connections through Tailscale without validating the shared secret; trusted-only network exposure removes the untrusted path.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-28472
Published
Mar 5, 2026
Updated
Mar 5, 2026
Vendor
OpenClaw Foundation
Product
OpenClaw
Classifications
CWE-306, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 5, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <2026.2.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

OpenClaw Foundation · OpenClawversion=0 <2026.2.2

Published CVSS scores

8.1VulnCheckCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.3GitHubCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
9.2VulnCheckCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
9.8NISTCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A: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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-306Missing Authentication for Critical Function
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

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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