CVE-2026-22172
CVE-2026-22172 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Openclaw with a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.9. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-862.
Key facts
- Severity: Critical (CVSS 3.x base score 9.9)
- CVSS v4: 9.4
- EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (39th percentile)
- Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
- EU (EUVD) id: EUVD-2026-13704
- Weakness: CWE-862
- Affected product: Openclaw
- Published:
- Last modified:
Description
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.3.12 contain an authorization bypass vulnerability in the WebSocket connect path that allows shared-token or password-authenticated connections to self-declare elevated scopes without server-side binding. Attackers can exploit this logic flaw to present unauthorized scopes such as operator.admin and perform admin-only gateway operations.
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2026-22172?
- OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.3.12 contain an authorization bypass vulnerability in the WebSocket connect path that allows shared-token or password-authenticated connections to self-declare elevated scopes without server-side binding. Attackers can exploit this logic flaw to present unauthorized scopes such as operator.admin and perform admin-only gateway operations.
- How severe is CVE-2026-22172?
- CVE-2026-22172 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.9, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
- Is CVE-2026-22172 being actively exploited?
- It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (39th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- What products are affected by CVE-2026-22172?
- CVE-2026-22172 affects Openclaw. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
- How do I fix CVE-2026-22172?
- Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
- Does CVE-2026-22172 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?
- Yes. CVE-2026-22172 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2026-13704.
- When was CVE-2026-22172 published?
- CVE-2026-22172 was published on 2026-03-20 and last updated on 2026-06-17.
References
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-rqpp-rjj8-7wv8
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-scope-elevation-in-websocket-shared-auth-connections
Affected products (1)
- cpe:2.3:a:openclaw:openclaw:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:*
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