GHSA-hw9r-h9mr-4jff: OpenClaw: Scoped chat.send route inheritance could bypass admin command scope gates
A vulnerability in OpenClaw's scoped Gateway chat.send route allows commands requiring higher privileges (operator.approvals or operator.admin) to be executed with only operator.write scope when routed through inherited external delivery routes. This affects deployments where scoped Gateway clients with operator.write can deliver commands into sessions with external routes. The issue is fixed in version 2026.5.18. Until upgraded, avoid granting operator.write tokens to clients that can deliver commands into sessions with external routes unless fully trusted.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.5.18 have a vulnerability in the scoped Gateway chat.send route inheritance mechanism. Scoped Gateway clients with operator.write scope can deliver commands through inherited external routes that bypass scope checks requiring operator.approvals or operator.admin. This allows execution of administrative commands such as plugin, config, MCP, allowlist, and ACP mutations with lower privileges than intended. The vulnerability does not affect shared-secret bearer HTTP compatibility endpoints. The issue is resolved in OpenClaw 2026.5.18.
Potential Impact
Commands that should require elevated operator.approvals or operator.admin scopes can be executed with only operator.write privileges when routed through inherited external delivery routes. This can lead to unauthorized administrative actions including approval resolution and configuration changes, potentially compromising system integrity and control.
Mitigation Recommendations
Upgrade to OpenClaw version 2026.5.18 or later, where this vulnerability is patched. Until the upgrade is applied, do not grant operator.write tokens to clients capable of delivering commands into sessions with external routes unless those clients are fully trusted with admin-level command effects.
GHSA-hw9r-h9mr-4jff: OpenClaw: Scoped chat.send route inheritance could bypass admin command scope gates
Description
A vulnerability in OpenClaw's scoped Gateway chat.send route allows commands requiring higher privileges (operator.approvals or operator.admin) to be executed with only operator.write scope when routed through inherited external delivery routes. This affects deployments where scoped Gateway clients with operator.write can deliver commands into sessions with external routes. The issue is fixed in version 2026.5.18. Until upgraded, avoid granting operator.write tokens to clients that can deliver commands into sessions with external routes unless fully trusted.
CVSS v3.1
Affected software
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AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.5.18 have a vulnerability in the scoped Gateway chat.send route inheritance mechanism. Scoped Gateway clients with operator.write scope can deliver commands through inherited external routes that bypass scope checks requiring operator.approvals or operator.admin. This allows execution of administrative commands such as plugin, config, MCP, allowlist, and ACP mutations with lower privileges than intended. The vulnerability does not affect shared-secret bearer HTTP compatibility endpoints. The issue is resolved in OpenClaw 2026.5.18.
Potential Impact
Commands that should require elevated operator.approvals or operator.admin scopes can be executed with only operator.write privileges when routed through inherited external delivery routes. This can lead to unauthorized administrative actions including approval resolution and configuration changes, potentially compromising system integrity and control.
Mitigation Recommendations
Upgrade to OpenClaw version 2026.5.18 or later, where this vulnerability is patched. Until the upgrade is applied, do not grant operator.write tokens to clients capable of delivering commands into sessions with external routes unless those clients are fully trusted with admin-level command effects.
Technical Details
- Gcve Source
- db.gcve.eu
- Osv Id
- GHSA-hw9r-h9mr-4jff
- Osv Schema Version
- 1.4.0
- Aliases
- []
- Ecosystems
- ["npm"]
- Database Specific Severity
- HIGH
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
Threat ID: 6a46ecd227e9c7971943f2c3
Added to database: 07/02/2026, 22:57:22 UTC
Last enriched: 07/02/2026, 23:21:18 UTC
Last updated: 07/02/2026, 23:21:18 UTC
Views: 2
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