CVE-2026-35634: OpenClaw Gateway Canvas Local-direct Requests Bypass Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-6mqc-jqh6-x8fc
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CWE-287
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-35634 is a MODERATE gateway canvas local-direct requests bypass vulnerability (CWE-287: Improper Authentication) affecting OpenClaw libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves gateway canvas local-direct requests bypass canvas http and websocket authentication. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2026.3.23.

CVE-2026-35634 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-35634
GHSA Identifier GHSA-6mqc-jqh6-x8fc
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-287: Improper Authentication
Affected Product OpenClaw
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2026-35634

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: 2026.3.23 
npm install openclaw@2026.3.23
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-2026-35634, 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 2026.3.23), 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-287: Improper Authentication, where when an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct. 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 `v2026.3.23`, Canvas and A2UI loopback requests could bypass Canvas bearer-or-capability authentication because `authorizeCanvasRequest(...)` treated `isLocalDirectRequest(...)` as an unconditional allow path. ## Affected Packages / Versions - Package: `openclaw` (npm) - Affected: `< 2026.3.23` - Fixed: `>= 2026.3.23` - Latest released tag checked: `v2026.3.23-2` (`630f1479c44f78484dfa21bb407cbe6f171dac87`) - Latest published npm version checked: `2026.3.23-2` ## Root Cause The vulnerable logic lived in `src/gateway/server/http-auth.ts`. `authorizeCanvasRequest(...)` returned `{ ok: true }` for local-direct requests before checking bearer authentication or an active node canvas capability, which meant unauthenticated loopback Canvas HTTP and WebSocket requests could succeed. ## Fix Commit(s) - `d5dc6b6573ae489bc7e5651090f4767b93537c9e` — `fix(gateway): require auth for canvas routes` ## Release Status The fix commit is contained in released tags `v2026.3.23` and `v2026.3.23-2`. The latest shipped tag and npm release both include the fix. ## Code-Level Confirmation - `src/gateway/server/http-auth.ts` no longer contains the local-direct early return in `authorizeCanvasRequest(...)`. - `src/gateway/server.canvas-auth.test.ts` adds the regression test `denies canvas HTTP/WS on loopback without bearer or capability by default`. Thanks @smaeljaish771 for reporting.

CVE-2026-35634 Affected OpenClaw Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2026.3.23
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
openclaw
npm/openclaw
npm
< 2026.3.23
2026.3.23

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-6mqc-jqh6-x8fc
NVD — CVE-2026-35634 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-35634
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/630f1479c44f78484dfa21bb407cbe6f171dac87
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/d5dc6b6573ae489bc7e5651090f4767b93537c9e
OpenClaw Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw
www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw... WEB
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-authentication-bypass-via-local-direct-requests-in-canvas-gateway

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-35634?
CVE-2026-35634 is a security vulnerability in OpenClaw involving Gateway Canvas local-direct requests bypass Canvas HTTP and WebSocket authentication under CWE-287: Improper Authentication.
Which OpenClaw versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2026.3.23 across affected packages: openclaw.
What version fixes CVE-2026-35634?
Upgrading to 2026.3.23 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is openclaw affected?
Yes, openclaw is affected in releases prior to 2026.3.23. Upgrade your dependency to 2026.3.23 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-35634?
CVE-2026-35634 is classified under CWE-287: Improper Authentication (When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2026-35634?
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-6mqc-jqh6-x8fc",
  "modified" : "2026-04-10T20:19:48Z",
  "published" : "2026-03-26T18:59:00Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-35634" ],
  "summary" : "OpenClaw: Gateway Canvas local-direct requests bypass Canvas HTTP and WebSocket authentication",
  "details" : "## Summary\nBefore `v2026.3.23`, Canvas and A2UI loopback requests could bypass Canvas bearer-or-capability authentication because `authorizeCanvasRequest(...)` treated `isLocalDirectRequest(...)` as an unconditional allow path.\n\n## Affected Packages / Versions\n- Package: `openclaw` (npm)\n- Affected: `< 2026.3.23`\n- Fixed: `>= 2026.3.23`\n- Latest released tag checked: `v2026.3.23-2` (`630f1479c44f78484dfa21bb407cbe6f171dac87`)\n- Latest published npm version checked: `2026.3.23-2`\n\n## Root Cause\nThe vulnerable logic lived in `src/gateway/server/http-auth.ts`. `authorizeCanvasRequest(...)` returned `{ ok: true }` for local-direct requests before checking bearer authentication or an active node canvas capability, which meant unauthenticated loopback Canvas HTTP and WebSocket requests could succeed.\n\n## Fix Commit(s)\n- `d5dc6b6573ae489bc7e5651090f4767b93537c9e` — `fix(gateway): require auth for canvas routes`\n\n## Release Status\nThe fix commit is contained in released tags `v2026.3.23` and `v2026.3.23-2`. The latest shipped tag and npm release both include the fix.\n\n## Code-Level Confirmation\n- `src/gateway/server/http-auth.ts` no longer contains the local-direct early return in `authorizeCanvasRequest(...)`.\n- `src/gateway/server.canvas-auth.test.ts` adds the regression test `denies canvas HTTP/WS on loopback without bearer or capability by default`.\n\nThanks @smaeljaish771 for reporting.",
  "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" : "2026.3.23"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-6mqc-jqh6-x8fc"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-35634"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/630f1479c44f78484dfa21bb407cbe6f171dac87"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/d5dc6b6573ae489bc7e5651090f4767b93537c9e"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-authentication-bypass-via-local-direct-requests-in-canvas-gateway"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-287" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-03-26T18:59:00Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}