OpenClaw Vulnerable to Remote Code Execution via Node Invoke Approval Bypass in Gateway

Exploitation

No confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next marks exploitation only from CISA KEV.

CVSS 4.0

9.4 · CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H · score source

EPSS

• CVE-2026-28466: 0.47% estimated exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 41.00 (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-03). This is a model estimate, not proof of exploitation or customer exposure.

As published by the source; long descriptions are shortened.

Summary A remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability in the gateway-to-node invocation path allowed an authenticated gateway client to bypass node-host exec approvals by injecting internal control fields into node.invoke parameters. Affected Component - Gateway method: node.invoke for node command system.run - Node host runner: exec approval gating for system.run Impact If an attacker can authenticate to a gateway (for example via a leaked/shared gateway token or a paired device token with operator.write), they could execute arbitrary commands on connected node hosts that support system.run. This can lead to full compromise of developer workstations, CI runners, and servers running the node host. Technical Details The gateway forwarded user-controlled params to node hosts without sanitizing internal approval fields. The node host treated params.approved === true and/or params.approvalDecision as sufficient to skip the approval workflow. Fix Patched in OpenClaw 2026.2.14. - Commits: -…

Published by the source

2 Mar 2026, 23:24 UTC

Last modified by the source

6 Mar 2026, 01:16 UTC

Source last checked

26 Oct 2026, 12:43 UTC

1. Revision 4 · amended · 26 Oct 2026

   Amended from ghsa record GHSA-gv46-4xfq-jv58

2. Revision 3 · amended · 24 Oct 2026

   Reviewed OSV alias/range/CVSS4 correction; package source scopes and original publication preserved. No customer finding resolved.

3. Revision 2 · amended · 24 Oct 2026

   Amended from osv record GHSA-gv46-4xfq-jv58

4. Revision 1 · created · 23 Oct 2026

   Published from ghsa record GHSA-gv46-4xfq-jv58

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# Patch Next advisory brief: CVE-2026-28466

Advisory: OpenClaw Vulnerable to Remote Code Execution via Node Invoke Approval Bypass in Gateway
IDs: CVE-2026-28466, GHSA-gv46-4xfq-jv58
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/cve-2026-28466 (revision 4, source checked 26 Oct 2026, 12:43 UTC)
Inventory: none attached. This brief comes from a public page and does not say whether any deployment is affected.
Severity: Critical (CVSS 9.4)
Exploitation: no confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next confirms exploitation only from CISA KEV.
Vendor response: Vendor fix available; fixed versions by package: openclaw 2026.2.14. A vendor fix does not mean a deployment is fixed.

## Affected components
- npm openclaw: affected < 2026.2.14; fixed in 2026.2.14

## Suggested inspection (read-only)
- `npm ls openclaw --all`: lists every installed copy and version, including transitive ones. Run in the project root after `npm ci`.

## Supported action
Upgrade each affected component to a fixed version on its release line. For a transitive dependency, upgrade the parent package or add an override or constraint, then regenerate the lockfile. Redeploy every environment that ran an affected version.

## Required regression checks
- Run the test suite and a production build.
- Exercise the features that depend on openclaw.
- Repeat the inspection and confirm that only fixed versions remain installed.

## Rollback considerations
- Keep the previous lockfile and deployment artifact. Rolling back reinstates the vulnerable version, so apply any documented mitigation while you fix forward.

## Unresolved questions
- Which deployments run an affected version?
- Exploitation status can change. Check again before lowering the priority.
- Mark the work resolved only after the fixed version is verified in production.

## Sources
- Verified: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-gv46-4xfq-jv58 (GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-gv46-4xfq-jv58 lists affected ranges: npm openclaw >=0 <2026.2.14)
- Verified: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-gv46-4xfq-jv58 (OSV record GHSA-gv46-4xfq-jv58 lists affected ranges: npm openclaw >=0 <2026.2.14 (fixed))

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