CVE-2026-45002: OpenClaw Hook Mapping Templates Could Bypass Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-2xcp-x87w-q377
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CWE-639
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-45002 is a MODERATE hook mapping templates could bypass vulnerability (CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key) affecting OpenClaw libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves hook mapping templates could bypass hook session-key opt-in. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2026.4.20.

CVE-2026-45002 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-45002
GHSA Identifier GHSA-2xcp-x87w-q377
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key
Affected Product OpenClaw
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2026-45002

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected OpenClaw dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

openclaw fixed: 2026.4.20 
npm install openclaw@2026.4.20
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

npm ls openclaw

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2026-45002, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls openclaw

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of OpenClaw in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2026.4.20), your application is affected.

Note: The npm ls openclaw command inspects dependencies declared in your package.json and lockfile; it does not perform automated runtime dynamic scanning.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key, where the system's authorization functionality does not prevent one user from gaining access to another user's data or record by modifying the key value identifying the data. In OpenClaw, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

## Affected Packages / Versions - Package: `openclaw` (npm) - Affected versions: `< 2026.4.20` - Patched version: `2026.4.20` ## Impact Templated hook mapping `sessionKey` values were treated differently from request-supplied session keys. A hook mapping could render an externally influenced session key even when `hooks.allowRequestSessionKey` was disabled, bypassing the intended routing opt-in for hook callers. This affects webhook routing isolation. It does not grant host execution by itself. Severity is medium. ## Fix Template-rendered mapping session keys are now treated as externally supplied routing input and require `hooks.allowRequestSessionKey=true` plus the existing prefix policy checks. Fix commit: - `5275d008ed33203dba3f98e969ad683a65c416c3` ## Release Fixed in OpenClaw `2026.4.20`.

CVE-2026-45002 Affected OpenClaw Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2026.4.20
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
openclaw
npm/openclaw
npm
< 2026.4.20
2026.4.20

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-2xcp-x87w-q377
NVD — CVE-2026-45002 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-45002
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/5275d008ed33203dba3f98e969ad683a65c416c3
OpenClaw Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw
www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw... WEB
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-hook-session-key-bypass-via-template-mapping

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-45002?
CVE-2026-45002 is a security vulnerability in OpenClaw involving Hook mapping templates could bypass hook session-key opt-in under CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key.
Which OpenClaw versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2026.4.20 across affected packages: openclaw.
What version fixes CVE-2026-45002?
Upgrading to 2026.4.20 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is openclaw affected?
Yes, openclaw is affected in releases prior to 2026.4.20. Upgrade your dependency to 2026.4.20 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-45002?
CVE-2026-45002 is classified under CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key (The system's authorization functionality does not prevent one user from gaining access to another user's data or record by modifying the key value identifying the data.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2026-45002?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls openclaw'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-2xcp-x87w-q377",
  "modified" : "2026-05-19T15:56:34Z",
  "published" : "2026-04-25T23:45:11Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-45002" ],
  "summary" : "OpenClaw: Hook mapping templates could bypass hook session-key opt-in",
  "details" : "## Affected Packages / Versions\n\n- Package: `openclaw` (npm)\n- Affected versions: `< 2026.4.20`\n- Patched version: `2026.4.20`\n\n## Impact\n\nTemplated hook mapping `sessionKey` values were treated differently from request-supplied session keys. A hook mapping could render an externally influenced session key even when `hooks.allowRequestSessionKey` was disabled, bypassing the intended routing opt-in for hook callers.\n\nThis affects webhook routing isolation. It does not grant host execution by itself. Severity is medium.\n\n## Fix\n\nTemplate-rendered mapping session keys are now treated as externally supplied routing input and require `hooks.allowRequestSessionKey=true` plus the existing prefix policy checks.\n\nFix commit:\n\n- `5275d008ed33203dba3f98e969ad683a65c416c3`\n\n## Release\n\nFixed in OpenClaw `2026.4.20`.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "openclaw"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2026.4.20"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-2xcp-x87w-q377"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-45002"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/5275d008ed33203dba3f98e969ad683a65c416c3"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-hook-session-key-bypass-via-template-mapping"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-639" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-04-25T23:45:11Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}