OpenClaw < 2026.5.18 - Scope Elevation in trusted-proxy Control UI WebSocket
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- None
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-862.
Summary
OpenClaw before 2026.5.18 accepts WebSocket client-declared operator scopes before binding to server-approved pairing or trusted-proxy authorization baseline. Unpaired or restricted trusted-proxy Control UI clients can obtain cached operator.admin authority on live WebSocket connections to execute admin-gated Gateway RPCs.
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
Remediation
- Fix · CNA OpenClaw (OpenClaw) Fixed in 2026.5.18
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Release ·
OpenClaw 2026.5.18
5 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 1 MEDIUM, 4 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2026-38818 OpenClaw < 2026.5.18 - Command Argument Modification via Shell Wrapper Between Approval and ExecutionPriority MEDIUM 42
- TI-2026-38825 OpenClaw < 2026.5.18 - Command Truncation in Exec Approval DisplayPriority LOW 38
- TI-2026-38827 OpenClaw < 2026.5.18 - Arbitrary File Read via Shell Expansion in system.run Safe-bin AllowlistPriority LOW 35
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-53821
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-vcg8-6gf2-cg9j
- 2026-10-25 Priority changed: MEDIUM → LOW
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-2026-53821 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-53821 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-vcg8-6gf2-cg9j · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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