OpenClaw: Trailing-dot localhost CDP hosts could bypass remote loopback protections

Exploitation

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

CVSS 4.0

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

EPSS

• CVE-2026-41372: 0.25% estimated exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 16.58 (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 Before OpenClaw 2026.4.2, remote CDP discovery could return a trailing-dot localhost host such as localhost. and bypass OpenClaw's loopback-host normalization. That let a non-loopback remote CDP profile pivot the follow-up connection back onto localhost. Impact A hostile discovery response could retarget authenticated browser control toward a localhost-resolving endpoint on the OpenClaw host. This weakened the existing remote-CDP loopback protection and could expose localhost-backed browser state. Affected Packages / Versions - Package: openclaw (npm) - Affected versions: <= 2026.4.1 - Patched versions: = 2026.4.2 - Latest published npm version: 2026.4.1 Fix Commit(s) - 9c22d636697336a6b22b0ae24798d8b8325d7828 — normalize localhost absolute-form CDP hosts before loopback checks Release Process Note The fix is present on main and is staged for OpenClaw 2026.4.2. Publish this advisory after the 2026.4.2 npm release is live. Thanks @smaeljaish771 for reporting.

Published by the source

7 Apr 2026, 18:15 UTC

Last modified by the source

6 May 2026, 19:26 UTC

Source last checked

26 Oct 2026, 12:51 UTC

1. Revision 3 · amended · 26 Oct 2026

   Amended from ghsa record GHSA-fh32-73r9-rgh5

2. Revision 2 · amended · 24 Oct 2026

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

3. Revision 1 · created · 24 Oct 2026

   Published from osv record GHSA-fh32-73r9-rgh5

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# Patch Next advisory brief: CVE-2026-41372

Advisory: OpenClaw: Trailing-dot localhost CDP hosts could bypass remote loopback protections
IDs: CVE-2026-41372, GHSA-fh32-73r9-rgh5
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/cve-2026-41372 (revision 3, source checked 26 Oct 2026, 12:51 UTC)
Inventory: none attached. This brief comes from a public page and does not say whether any deployment is affected.
Severity: Medium (CVSS 6.9)
Exploitation: no confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next confirms exploitation only from CISA KEV.
Vendor response: Vendor fix available; fixed versions by package: openclaw 2026.4.2. A vendor fix does not mean a deployment is fixed.

## Affected components
- npm openclaw: affected <= 2026.4.1; fixed in 2026.4.2

## 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-fh32-73r9-rgh5 (OSV record GHSA-fh32-73r9-rgh5 lists affected ranges: npm openclaw >=0 <2026.4.2 (fixed))
- Verified: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-fh32-73r9-rgh5 (GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-fh32-73r9-rgh5 lists affected ranges: npm openclaw >=0 <=2026.4.1)

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