OpenClaw Gateway: RCE and Privilege Escalation from operator.pairing to operator.admin via device.pair.approve
Summary
device.pair.approve allowed an operator.pairing approver to approve a pending device request for broader operator scopes than the approver actually held.
Affected Packages / Versions
- Package:
openclaw(npm) - Affected: < 2026.3.22
- Fixed: >= 2026.3.22
- Latest released tag checked:
v2026.3.23-2(630f1479c44f78484dfa21bb407cbe6f171dac87) - Latest published npm version checked:
2026.3.23-2
Fix Commit(s)
fc2d29ea926f47c428c556e92ec981441228d2a4
Release Status
The fix shipped in v2026.3.22 and remains present in v2026.3.23 and v2026.3.23-2.
Code-Level Confirmation
- src/gateway/server-methods/devices.ts now threads caller scopes into device.pair.approve.
- src/infra/device-pairing.ts now rejects requested operator scopes that exceed the approver-held operator scope set.
OpenClaw thanks @zpbrent for reporting.
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm package | openclaw | < 2026.3.22 | 2026.3.22 |
References
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-hf68-49fm-59cq
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-35639
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/630f1479c44f78484dfa21bb407cbe6f171dac87
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/fc2d29ea926f47c428c556e92ec981441228d2a4
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-privilege-escalation-via-device-pair-approve-scope-validation
- CVSS vector
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-269- Platform
- npm
- Package
openclaw- Disclosed
- 26.03.2026
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-hf68-49fm-59cq - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: openclaw
All published vulnerabilities of this package (npm package), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 588
- First → latest
- 02.2026 07.2026
- Without a fix
- 9
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Critical 20
- High 215
- Medium 299
- Low 54
Disclosures per year
- 2026: 588
-
OpenClaw Gateway: RCE and Privilege Escalation from operator.pairing to operator.admin via device.pair.approve this entry
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