CVE-2026-32898: Openclaw OpenClaw ACP Client Has Permission Vulnerability
MODERATECVE-2026-32898 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.4) openclaw acp client has permission vulnerability (CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key) affecting Openclaw libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves openclaw acp client has permission auto-approval bypass via untrusted tool metadata. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2026.2.23.
CVE-2026-32898 at a Glance
Security Impact
CVSS: 5.4
The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N).
How to Fix CVE-2026-32898
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.
npm install openclaw@2026.2.23Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:
npm ls openclawHow to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2026-32898, inspect your project dependencies using npm:
npm ls openclawAnalyze 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 2026.2.23), 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
CVE-2026-32898 Affected Openclaw Versions
1 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
openclaw
|
npm |
< 2026.2.23
|
2026.2.23
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2026-32898?
Which Openclaw versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2026-32898?
Is openclaw affected?
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-32898?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-32898?
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2026-32898?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-7jx5-9fjg-hp4m",
"modified" : "2026-03-30T13:44:47Z",
"published" : "2026-02-27T22:08:36Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-32898" ],
"summary" : "OpenClaw ACP client has permission auto-approval bypass via untrusted tool metadata",
"details" : "## Vulnerability Summary\n\nThe OpenClaw ACP client could auto-approve tool calls based on untrusted metadata and permissive name heuristics. A malicious or compromised ACP tool invocation could bypass expected interactive approval prompts for read-class operations.\n\n## Affected Packages / Versions\n\n- Package: npm `openclaw`\n- Affected published versions: `<= 2026.2.22-2` (latest published as of February 24, 2026 is `2026.2.22-2`)\n- Patched in code on `main`: `2026.2.23` (released)\n\n## Technical Details\n\n- Permission classification trusted incoming `toolCall.kind` and heuristic name matching.\n- Non-core read-like names and spoofed kind metadata could reach auto-approve paths.\n- `read` operations were not scoped strongly enough to cwd in all metadata/title forms.\n\n## Fix\n\n- Require trusted core tool IDs for auto-approval and ignore untrusted `toolCall.kind` as an authorization source.\n- Scope `read` auto-approval to cwd-resolved paths.\n- Add stricter tool-name validation and regression coverage for spoofed kind and non-core read-like names.\n\n## Affected Functions\n\n- `resolvePermissionRequest`\n- `resolveToolNameForPermission`\n- `shouldAutoApproveToolCall`\n\n## Fix Commit(s)\n\n- `12cc754332f9a7c92e158ce7644aa22df79c0904`\n- `63dcd28ae0be2de1c75af09cc81841cebeec068f`\n\nFound using [MCPwner](https://github.com/Pigyon/MCPwner)\n\n\nThanks @nedlir for reporting.",
"severity" : [ {
"type" : "CVSS_V3",
"score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N"
}, {
"type" : "CVSS_V4",
"score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/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" : "2026.2.23"
} ]
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 2026.2.22-2"
}
} ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-7jx5-9fjg-hp4m"
}, {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-32898"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/12cc754332f9a7c92e158ce7644aa22df79c0904"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/63dcd28ae0be2de1c75af09cc81841cebeec068f"
}, {
"type" : "PACKAGE",
"url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/releases/tag/v2026.2.23"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-acp-permission-auto-approval-bypass-via-untrusted-tool-metadata"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-639", "CWE-863" ],
"severity" : "MODERATE",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2026-02-27T22:08:36Z",
"nvd_published_at" : null
}
}