Openclaw cli: OpenClaw has gateway plugin auth bypass via encoded dot-segment traversal in protected /api/channels paths (CVE-2026-32036)
Description
OpenClaw CLI versions from 2026.1.29 up to but not including 2026.2.26 contain a vulnerability in the gateway plugin route authentication for /api/channels. This vulnerability allows an attacker to bypass authentication by using encoded dot-segment traversal sequences in the request path, which are normalized by plugin handlers. The issue is fixed in version 2026.2.26. The CVSS 3.1 score is 6.5, indicating a medium severity vulnerability.
CVSS v3.1
Score 6.5medium
Affected software
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AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
The OpenClaw CLI gateway plugin route authentication for the /api/channels endpoint can be bypassed by using encoded dot-segment traversal (e.g., ..%2f) in the request path. Plugin handlers normalize these encoded sequences, allowing crafted paths to circumvent authentication checks and access protected plugin channel routes. This affects OpenClaw CLI versions from 2026.1.29 up to but excluding 2026.2.26. The vulnerability is addressed in the planned release 2026.2.26 with commit 258d615c45527ffda37cecd08cd268f97461bde0.
Potential Impact
Attackers can bypass authentication controls on protected /api/channels plugin routes by exploiting path normalization of encoded dot-segment traversal sequences. This could lead to unauthorized access to plugin channel functionality, potentially impacting integrity of the system. There is no indication of availability impact or known exploitation in the wild.
Mitigation Recommendations
A patch is available in OpenClaw CLI version 2026.2.26. Users should upgrade to this version once it is released to remediate the authentication bypass vulnerability. Until then, no additional vendor-recommended mitigations are specified.
Technical Details
- Gcve Source
- db.gcve.eu
- Osv Id
- BREW-openclaw-cli-CVE-2026-32036
- Osv Schema Version
- 1.7.3
- Ecosystems
- ["Homebrew"]
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
Threat ID: 6ac245bb12601ec6a3166be5
Added to database: 10/04/2026, 12:25:31 UTC
Last enriched: 10/04/2026, 13:03:56 UTC
Last updated: 10/04/2026, 16:08:37 UTC
Views: 1
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