CVE-2026-53838Network attack vector

Approval bypass via pairing-state mutation

Published Jun 12, 2026 · Updated Jun 12, 2026

Authorization bypass in OpenClaw before 2026.5.27 allows remote authenticated users to gain broader node authority during reconnection. The node-pairing reconnection path mutates pairing state between the approval-scope check and its use, allowing stale or broader authority to govern the session. The feature must be enabled and reachable by a paired or reconnecting node; the consequence is limited to approval boundaries crossed by that node.

CVSS severity6.0
Medium
EPSS probability0.23%
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 before 2026.5.27 allows remote authenticated users to gain broader node authority during reconnection. The node-pairing reconnection path mutates pairing state between the approval-scope check and its use, allowing stale or broader authority to govern the session. The feature must be enabled and reachable by a paired or reconnecting node; the consequence is limited to approval boundaries crossed by that node.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-53838
Published
Jun 12, 2026
Updated
Jun 12, 2026
Vendor
OpenClaw Foundation
Product
OpenClaw
Classifications
CWE-367, CAPEC-29, T1068
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 12, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jun 12, 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 <2026.5.27

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

OpenClaw Foundation · OpenClawversion=0 <2026.5.27

Published CVSS scores

9.8VulnCheckCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.0VulnCheckCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-367Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition
CAPEC-29Leveraging Time-of-Check and Time-of-Use (TOCTOU) Race Conditions
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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