OpenClaw: Gateway Backend Reconnect lets Non-Admin Operator Scopes Self-Claim operator.admin

Exploitation

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

CVSS 4.0

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

EPSS

• CVE-2026-35663: 0.28% estimated exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 20.13 (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 Gateway Backend Reconnect lets Non-Admin Operator Scopes Self-Claim operator.admin Affected Packages / Versions - Package: openclaw - Affected versions: <= 2026.3.24 - First patched version: 2026.3.25 - Latest published npm version at verification time: 2026.3.24 Details Backend-labeled reconnects could previously self-request broader scopes and bypass pairing, allowing non-admin operators to reconnect as operator.admin. Commit d3d8e316bd819d3c7e34253aeb7eccb2510f5f48 removes the backend self-pairing skip and requires pairing when requested scopes exceed the approved baseline. Verified vulnerable on tag v2026.3.24 and fixed on main by commit d3d8e316bd819d3c7e34253aeb7eccb2510f5f48. Fix Commit(s) - d3d8e316bd819d3c7e34253aeb7eccb2510f5f48

Published by the source

27 Mar 2026, 22:29 UTC

Last modified by the source

10 Apr 2026, 17:42 UTC

Source last checked

26 Oct 2026, 12:48 UTC

1. Revision 4 · amended · 26 Oct 2026

   Amended from ghsa record GHSA-9hjh-fr4f-gxc4

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-9hjh-fr4f-gxc4

4. Revision 1 · created · 23 Oct 2026

   Published from ghsa record GHSA-9hjh-fr4f-gxc4

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# Patch Next advisory brief: CVE-2026-35663

Advisory: OpenClaw: Gateway Backend Reconnect lets Non-Admin Operator Scopes Self-Claim operator.admin
IDs: CVE-2026-35663, GHSA-9hjh-fr4f-gxc4
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/cve-2026-35663 (revision 4, source checked 26 Oct 2026, 12:48 UTC)
Inventory: none attached. This brief comes from a public page and does not say whether any deployment is affected.
Severity: Critical (CVSS 9.3)
Exploitation: no confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next confirms exploitation only from CISA KEV.
Vendor response: Vendor response not established. A vendor fix does not mean a deployment is fixed.

## Affected components
- npm openclaw: affected <= 2026.3.24

## 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
No complete vendor fix is recorded. Follow the primary source's mitigation guidance and check this record again before closing anything.

## 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-9hjh-fr4f-gxc4 (GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-9hjh-fr4f-gxc4 lists affected ranges: npm openclaw >=0 <=2026.3.24)
- Verified: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-9hjh-fr4f-gxc4 (OSV record GHSA-9hjh-fr4f-gxc4 lists affected ranges: npm openclaw >=0 <=2026.3.24)

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