CVE-2026-32031: OpenClaw /api/channels Gateway-auth Boundary Bypass Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-8j2w-6fmm-m587
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CVSS 4.8
CWE-288
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-32031 is a MODERATE (CVSS 4.8) /api/channels gateway-auth boundary bypass vulnerability (CWE-288: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel) affecting OpenClaw libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves /api/channels gateway-auth boundary bypass via path canonicalization mismatch. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2026.2.26.

CVE-2026-32031 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-32031
GHSA Identifier GHSA-8j2w-6fmm-m587
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 4.8
CWE Classification CWE-288: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel
Affected Product OpenClaw
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 4.8

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:L/A:N).

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

How to Fix CVE-2026-32031

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: 2026.2.26 
npm install openclaw@2026.2.26
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-2026-32031, 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 2026.2.26), 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

### Summary Gateway auth for plugin channel endpoints can be bypassed when path canonicalization differs between the gateway guard and plugin handler routing. ### Details On affected versions, `server-http` only applies gateway auth when raw `requestPath` matches exactly: - `/api/channels` - `/api/channels/*` If a plugin handler canonicalizes path input (for example `decodeURIComponent(pathname).toLowerCase()`), requests like: - `/API/channels/nostr/default/profile` - `/api/channels%2Fnostr%2Fdefault%2Fprofile` can be interpreted as `/api/channels/*` by the plugin, while the gateway auth guard is skipped. ### Impact Authentication boundary bypass for plugin channel HTTP routes under canonicalization mismatch conditions. Unauthorized callers may access plugin channel APIs that are expected to require gateway auth. CWE: CWE-288 (Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel) CVSS: `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N` (Base 5.3, Moderate)

CVE-2026-32031 Affected OpenClaw Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2026.2.26
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
openclaw
npm/openclaw
npm
< 2026.2.26
2026.2.26

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-8j2w-6fmm-m587
NVD — CVE-2026-32031 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-32031
OpenClaw Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw
www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw... WEB
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-authentication-bypass-via-path-canonicalization-mismatch-in-api-channels-gateway

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-32031?
CVE-2026-32031 is a security vulnerability in OpenClaw involving /api/channels gateway-auth boundary bypass via path canonicalization mismatch under CWE-288: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel.
Which OpenClaw versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2026.2.26 across affected packages: openclaw.
What version fixes CVE-2026-32031?
Upgrading to 2026.2.26 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is openclaw affected?
Yes, openclaw is affected in releases prior to 2026.2.26. Upgrade your dependency to 2026.2.26 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-32031?
CVE-2026-32031 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 4.8 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-32031?
CVE-2026-32031 is classified under CWE-288: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel (The product requires authentication, but the product has an alternate path or channel that does not require authentication.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2026-32031?
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-8j2w-6fmm-m587",
  "modified" : "2026-03-25T18:47:40Z",
  "published" : "2026-03-12T14:22:04Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-32031" ],
  "summary" : "OpenClaw: /api/channels gateway-auth boundary bypass via path canonicalization mismatch",
  "details" : "### Summary\nGateway auth for plugin channel endpoints can be bypassed when path canonicalization differs between the gateway guard and plugin handler routing.\n\n### Details\nOn affected versions, `server-http` only applies gateway auth when raw `requestPath` matches exactly:\n- `/api/channels`\n- `/api/channels/*`\n\nIf a plugin handler canonicalizes path input (for example `decodeURIComponent(pathname).toLowerCase()`), requests like:\n- `/API/channels/nostr/default/profile`\n- `/api/channels%2Fnostr%2Fdefault%2Fprofile`\ncan be interpreted as `/api/channels/*` by the plugin, while the gateway auth guard is skipped.\n\n### Impact\nAuthentication boundary bypass for plugin channel HTTP routes under canonicalization mismatch conditions. Unauthorized callers may access plugin channel APIs that are expected to require gateway auth.\n\nCWE: CWE-288 (Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel)\nCVSS: `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N` (Base 5.3, Moderate)",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N"
  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "openclaw"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2026.2.26"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 2026.2.25"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-8j2w-6fmm-m587"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-32031"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-authentication-bypass-via-path-canonicalization-mismatch-in-api-channels-gateway"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-288" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-03-12T14:22:04Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-03-19T22:16:38Z"
  }
}