CVE-2026-41372: OpenClaw Trailing-dot Localhost CDP Hosts Could Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-fh32-73r9-rgh5
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CVSS 5.8
CWE-639 CWE-20
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-41372 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.8) trailing-dot localhost cdp hosts could vulnerability (CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key) affecting OpenClaw libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves trailing-dot localhost cdp hosts could bypass remote loopback protections. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2026.4.2.

CVE-2026-41372 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-41372
GHSA Identifier GHSA-fh32-73r9-rgh5
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.8
CWE Classification CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key
Affected Product OpenClaw
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Changed (S:C)
Confidentiality Low (C:L)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2026-41372

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: 2026.4.2 
npm install openclaw@2026.4.2
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-2026-41372, 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 2026.4.2), 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

## 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.

CVE-2026-41372 Affected OpenClaw Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2026.4.2
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
openclaw
npm/openclaw
npm
< 2026.4.2
2026.4.2

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-fh32-73r9-rgh5
NVD — CVE-2026-41372 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-41372
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/9c22d636697336a6b22b0ae24798d8b8325d7828
OpenClaw Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw
www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw... WEB
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-loopback-protection-bypass-via-trailing-dot-localhost-in-cdp-discovery

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-41372?
CVE-2026-41372 is a security vulnerability in OpenClaw involving Trailing-dot localhost CDP hosts could bypass remote loopback protections under CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key.
Which OpenClaw versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2026.4.2 across affected packages: openclaw.
What version fixes CVE-2026-41372?
Upgrading to 2026.4.2 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is openclaw affected?
Yes, openclaw is affected in releases prior to 2026.4.2. Upgrade your dependency to 2026.4.2 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-41372?
CVE-2026-41372 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.8 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-41372?
CVE-2026-41372 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-2026-41372?
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-fh32-73r9-rgh5",
  "modified" : "2026-05-06T19:03:55Z",
  "published" : "2026-04-07T18:15:56Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-41372" ],
  "summary" : "OpenClaw: Trailing-dot localhost CDP hosts could bypass remote loopback protections",
  "details" : "## Summary\n\nBefore 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.\n\n## Impact\n\nA 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.\n\n## Affected Packages / Versions\n\n- Package: `openclaw` (npm)\n- Affected versions: `<= 2026.4.1`\n- Patched versions: `>= 2026.4.2`\n- Latest published npm version: `2026.4.1`\n\n## Fix Commit(s)\n\n- `9c22d636697336a6b22b0ae24798d8b8325d7828` — normalize localhost absolute-form CDP hosts before loopback checks\n\n## Release Process Note\n\nThe 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.\n\nThanks @smaeljaish771 for reporting.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:N"
  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "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"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "openclaw"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2026.4.2"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 2026.4.1"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-fh32-73r9-rgh5"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-41372"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/9c22d636697336a6b22b0ae24798d8b8325d7828"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-loopback-protection-bypass-via-trailing-dot-localhost-in-cdp-discovery"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-20", "CWE-639" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-04-07T18:15:56Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}