OpenClaw affected by denial of service via unbounded URL-backed media fetch

Exploitation

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

CVSS

7.5 · CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

EPSS

• CVE-2026-29609: 0.48% estimated exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 41.81 (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 URL-backed media fetch handling allocated the entire response payload in memory (arrayBuffer) before enforcing maxBytes, allowing oversized responses to cause memory exhaustion. Affected Versions - openclaw (npm): < 2026.2.14 - clawdbot (npm): <= 2026.1.24-3 Patched Versions - openclaw (npm): 2026.2.14 Fix Commit - openclaw/openclaw main: 00a08908892d1743d1fc52e5cbd9499dd5da2fe0 Details Affected component: - src/media/input-files.ts (fetchWithGuard) When content-length is missing or incorrect, reading the body via response.arrayBuffer() buffers the full payload before a size check can run. Proof of Concept 1. Configure URL-based media input. 2. Serve a response larger than maxBytes (chunked transfer / no content-length). 3. Trigger the fetchWithGuard URL fetch path. Example local server (large response): Impact Availability loss via memory pressure from attacker-controlled remote media responses. Mitigation Until a patched release is available, disable URL-backed media inputs…

Published by the source

18 Feb 2026, 00:51 UTC

Last modified by the source

8 Jul 2026, 08:14 UTC

Source last checked

26 Oct 2026, 12:43 UTC

1. Revision 2 · amended · 26 Oct 2026

   Amended from ghsa record GHSA-j27p-hq53-9wgc

2. Revision 1 · created · 24 Oct 2026

   Published from osv record GHSA-j27p-hq53-9wgc

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# Patch Next advisory brief: CVE-2026-29609

Advisory: OpenClaw affected by denial of service via unbounded URL-backed media fetch
IDs: CVE-2026-29609, GHSA-j27p-hq53-9wgc
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/cve-2026-29609 (revision 2, 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: High (CVSS 7.5)
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://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-j27p-hq53-9wgc (OSV record GHSA-j27p-hq53-9wgc lists affected ranges: npm openclaw >=0 <2026.2.14 (fixed))
- Verified: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-j27p-hq53-9wgc (GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-j27p-hq53-9wgc lists affected ranges: npm openclaw >=0 <2026.2.14)

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