CVE-2026-32004: Openclaw OpenClaw Has Encoded-path Auth Bypass Vulnerability
HIGHCVE-2026-32004 is a HIGH (CVSS 6.5) openclaw has encoded-path auth bypass vulnerability (CWE-288: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel) affecting Openclaw libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves openclaw has encoded-path auth bypass in plugin `/api/channels` route classification. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2026.3.2.
CVE-2026-32004 at a Glance
Security Impact
CVSS: 6.5
The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:N).
How to Fix CVE-2026-32004
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@2026.3.2Run 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-2026-32004, 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 2026.3.2), 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-288: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel, where the product requires authentication, but the product has an alternate path or channel that does not require authentication. 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-2026-32004 Affected Openclaw Versions
1 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
openclaw
|
npm |
< 2026.3.2
|
2026.3.2
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2026-32004?
Which Openclaw versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2026-32004?
Is openclaw affected?
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-32004?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-32004?
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2026-32004?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-v865-p3gq-hw6m",
"modified" : "2026-03-30T13:21:06Z",
"published" : "2026-03-03T21:25:52Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-32004" ],
"summary" : "OpenClaw has encoded-path auth bypass in plugin `/api/channels` route classification",
"details" : "### Summary (Updated March 2, 2026)\nEncoded alternate-path requests could bypass plugin route auth checks for `/api/channels/*` due to canonicalization depth mismatch in vulnerable builds.\n\n### Affected Packages / Versions\n- Package: `openclaw` (npm)\n- Latest published vulnerable version: `2026.3.1`\n- Affected range: `<= 2026.3.1`\n- Patched release: `2026.3.2` (`patched_versions: >= 2026.3.2`)\n\n### Technical Details\nIn affected versions, plugin auth-path classification and route-path canonicalization could diverge for deeply encoded slash variants (for example multi-encoded `%2f`). That mismatch allowed alternate encoded paths to evade protected-prefix auth checks while still resolving to `/api/channels/...` in plugin route handling.\n\nThe fix set hardens this class of issue by:\n- canonicalizing route paths to a bounded fixpoint,\n- failing closed on malformed or unresolved canonicalization depth,\n- requiring explicit plugin-route auth contracts (no implicit auth default),\n- enforcing route ownership/conflict guards for duplicate route registrations, and\n- using shared webhook route lifecycle registration to avoid stale/conflicting route surfaces.\n\n### Affected Deployments\nDeployments exposing plugin HTTP routes and relying on gateway auth for `/api/channels/*` protection.\n\n### Fix Commit(s)\n- `93b07240257919f770d1e263e1f22753937b80ea`\n- `2fd8264ab03bd178e62a5f0c50d1c8556c17f12d`\n- `d74bc257d8432f17e50b23ae713d7e0623a1fe0f`\n- `7a7eee920a176a0043398c6b37bf4cc6eb983eeb`",
"severity" : [ {
"type" : "CVSS_V3",
"score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:N"
}, {
"type" : "CVSS_V4",
"score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
} ],
"affected" : [ {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "npm",
"name" : "openclaw"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0"
}, {
"fixed" : "2026.3.2"
} ]
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 2026.3.1"
}
} ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-v865-p3gq-hw6m"
}, {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-32004"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/2fd8264ab03bd178e62a5f0c50d1c8556c17f12d"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/7a7eee920a176a0043398c6b37bf4cc6eb983eeb"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/93b07240257919f770d1e263e1f22753937b80ea"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/d74bc257d8432f17e50b23ae713d7e0623a1fe0f"
}, {
"type" : "PACKAGE",
"url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-authentication-bypass-via-encoded-path-in-api-channels-route"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-288" ],
"severity" : "HIGH",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2026-03-03T21:25:52Z",
"nvd_published_at" : "2026-03-19T22:16:32Z"
}
}