OpenClaw: `operator.write` chat.send could reach admin-only config writes
Key facts
- Attack vector
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- Privileges required
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- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
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- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Fixed
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from GitHub. Impact type from CWE-863.
Summary
### Summary A gateway client authenticated with `operator.write` could route `/config set` or `/config unset` through `chat.send` and reach persistent config mutation even though direct config RPC methods are admin-scoped. ### Affected Packages / Versions - Package: `openclaw` (npm) - Latest published vulnerable version: `2026.3.2` - Affected range: `<= 2026.3.2` - Patched in: `2026.3.7` ### Details Before the fix, `chat.send` ran slash commands in an internal gateway-chat context with `CommandAuthorized: true`, and `/config` write paths only checked command authorization plus `commands.config` / `channels.<provider>.configWrites` gates. That allowed an authenticated `operator.write` gateway client to bridge into persistent config writes even though direct `config.*` RPC methods remain `operator.admin` scoped. The fix keeps command functionality intact while restoring the intended scope boundary: - persistent `/config set|unset` writes routed through gateway `chat.send` now require `operator.admin` - read-only `/config show` remains available to normal write-scoped gateway clients - normal messaging-channel `/config` behavior remains unchanged ### Impact This is a real authorization mismatch, but exploitability requires an already authenticated gateway client with `operator.write`, `chat.send` access, and `/config` command support enabled. Maintainer severity is set to medium because the bug is a scoped control-plane privilege mismatch rather than a broad unauthenticated or generic remote compromise. The main consequence is unintended persistent config mutation. ### Fix Commit(s) - `5f8f58ae25e2a78f31b06edcf26532d634ca554e` ### Release Process Note npm `2026.3.7` was published on March 8, 2026. This advisory is fixed in the released package. Thanks @tdjackey for reporting.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | openclaw (npm) | before 2026.3.7 | 2026.3.7 | Patch available | GHSA-hfpr-jhpq-x4rm |
- openclaw (npm) Vendor— Affected before 2026.3.7 Fixed in 2026.3.7 Patch available GHSA-hfpr-jhpq-x4rm
Remediation
- Fix · GHSA-hfpr-jhpq-x4rm openclaw (npm) Fixed in 2026.3.7 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-03 Threatist record created from GHSA-hfpr-jhpq-x4rm
References
Sources
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences