Openclaw cli: OpenClaw's owner-only gateway tool access checks were incomplete in specific authenticated DM flows
Description
OpenClaw CLI had an issue where authenticated non-owner users in direct message sessions could invoke certain owner-only gateway actions through a narrow tool invocation path. This vulnerability does not allow unauthenticated access or direct code execution. The root cause was inconsistent enforcement of owner-only access controls, relying on tool-name checks rather than comprehensive metadata-driven scopes. The issue affects openclaw versions up to 2026.2.17 and was fixed in version 2026.2.19 by refactoring scope mappings and centralizing owner-only enforcement.
CVSS v4.0
Affected software
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AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
OpenClaw CLI's owner-only gateway tool access controls were incomplete in specific authenticated direct message flows. Some gateway call paths used broader default scopes instead of method-level least-privilege scopes, and owner-only enforcement relied on tool-name checks inconsistently rather than metadata-driven policies. This allowed authenticated non-owner users in DM sessions to reach broader-than-intended owner-only gateway actions through a narrow tool invocation path. The issue was patched in version 2026.2.19 by refactoring gateway method scope mapping, centralizing owner-only enforcement in tool policy wrappers, explicitly marking owner-only tools, and improving internal call path structure.
Potential Impact
The vulnerability requires an authenticated non-owner sender in a direct message session and a specific tool invocation path. It does not allow unauthenticated access or direct code execution. The impact is limited to unauthorized access to certain owner-only gateway actions, potentially leading to privilege escalation within the application context.
Mitigation Recommendations
A patch is available in OpenClaw CLI version 2026.2.19 that refactors gateway method scope mapping and centralizes owner-only enforcement. Users should upgrade to version 2026.2.19 or later to remediate this issue. No additional mitigation actions are required beyond applying the official fix.
Technical Details
- Gcve Source
- db.gcve.eu
- Osv Id
- BREW-openclaw-cli-GHSA-2hm8-rqrm-xfjq
- Osv Schema Version
- 1.7.3
- Ecosystems
- ["Homebrew"]
- Cvss Version
- 4.0
Threat ID: 6ac245d312601ec6a3168011
Added to database: 10/04/2026, 12:25:55 UTC
Last enriched: 10/04/2026, 13:16:42 UTC
Last updated: 10/04/2026, 13:16:42 UTC
Views: 2
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