OpenClaw < 2026.5.7 - Privilege Escalation via Mutable Display Names in Matrix allowFrom
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- Present
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-290.
Summary
OpenClaw before 2026.5.7 contains a privilege escalation vulnerability in the Matrix allowFrom feature that allows authenticated accounts to match policy entries through mutable display name metadata. Attackers with the ability to change display names can receive agent access intended for another Matrix identity, potentially gaining unauthorized permissions depending on operator configuration.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenClaw | OpenClaw | before 2026.5.7 | 2026.5.7 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | openclaw (npm) | before 2026.5.7 | 2026.5.7 | Patch available | GHSA-7hxm-f538-3xp6 |
- OpenClaw VendorOpenClaw Affected before 2026.5.7 Fixed in 2026.5.7 Patch available CNA
- openclaw (npm) Vendor— Affected before 2026.5.7 Fixed in 2026.5.7 Patch available GHSA-7hxm-f538-3xp6
Remediation
- Fix · CNA OpenClaw (OpenClaw) Fixed in 2026.5.7
- Fix · GHSA-7hxm-f538-3xp6 openclaw (npm) Fixed in 2026.5.7 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-53811
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-7hxm-f538-3xp6
References
More Openclaw vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-25309 OpenClaw < 2026.3.28 Media Parsing Path Traversal to Arbitrary File Read CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.7
- TI-2026-20394 Exposure of resource to wrong sphere in OpenClaw CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2026-27742 OpenClaw < 2026.3.24 - Arbitrary Code Execution via .npmrc in Local Plugin/Hook Installation CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.4
- TI-2026-27766 OpenClaw < 2026.3.24 - Denial of Service via Feishu Webhook Pre-Auth Body Parsing CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.9
- TI-2026-07315 OpenClaw bluebubbles Webhook monitor.ts handleBlueBubblesWebhookRequest improper authentication CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.9
- TI-2026-17789 OpenClaw < 2026.2.22 - Allowlist Bypass via Command Substitution in system.run CVSS 4.0HIGH 7.5
Sources
- CVE-2026-53811 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-53811 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-7hxm-f538-3xp6 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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