CVE-2026-35645: OpenClaw Gateway Plugin Subagent Fallback `deleteSession` Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-h4jx-hjr3-fhgc
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CVSS 8.1
CWE-266 CWE-863 CWE-648
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-35645 is a MODERATE (CVSS 8.1) gateway plugin subagent fallback `deletesession` vulnerability (CWE-266: Incorrect Privilege Assignment) affecting OpenClaw libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves gateway plugin subagent fallback `deletesession` uses synthetic `operator.admin`. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2026.3.28.

CVE-2026-35645 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-35645
GHSA Identifier GHSA-h4jx-hjr3-fhgc
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.1
CWE Classification CWE-266: Incorrect Privilege Assignment
Affected Product OpenClaw
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.1

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:N/I:H/A:H).

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

How to Fix CVE-2026-35645

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: 2026.3.28 
npm install openclaw@2026.3.28
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-2026-35645, 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 2026.3.28), 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-266: Incorrect Privilege Assignment, where a product incorrectly assigns a privilege to a particular actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor. 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 Plugin Subagent Fallback `deleteSession` Uses Synthetic `operator.admin` ## Affected Packages / Versions - Package: `openclaw` - Affected versions: `<= 2026.3.24` - First patched version: `2026.3.25` - Latest published npm version at verification time: `2026.3.24` ## Details Gateway plugin subagent fallback `deleteSession` previously dispatched `sessions.delete` with a synthetic `operator.admin` runtime scope when no request-scoped client existed. Commit `b5d785f1a59a56c3471f2cef328f7c9a6c15f3e7` binds deletion to the caller scope instead of minting admin scope. Verified vulnerable on tag `v2026.3.24` and fixed on `main` by commit `b5d785f1a59a56c3471f2cef328f7c9a6c15f3e7`. ## Fix Commit(s) - `b5d785f1a59a56c3471f2cef328f7c9a6c15f3e7`

CVE-2026-35645 Affected OpenClaw Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2026.3.28
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
openclaw
npm/openclaw
npm
< 2026.3.28
2026.3.28

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-h4jx-hjr3-fhgc
NVD — CVE-2026-35645 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-35645
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/b5d785f1a59a56c3471f2cef328f7c9a6c15f3e7
OpenClaw Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw
www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw... WEB
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-privilege-escalation-via-synthetic-operator-admin-in-deletesession

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-35645?
CVE-2026-35645 is a security vulnerability in OpenClaw involving Gateway Plugin Subagent Fallback `deleteSession` Uses Synthetic `operator.admin` under CWE-266: Incorrect Privilege Assignment.
Which OpenClaw versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2026.3.28 across affected packages: openclaw.
What version fixes CVE-2026-35645?
Upgrading to 2026.3.28 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is openclaw affected?
Yes, openclaw is affected in releases prior to 2026.3.28. Upgrade your dependency to 2026.3.28 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-35645?
CVE-2026-35645 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.1 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-35645?
CVE-2026-35645 is classified under CWE-266: Incorrect Privilege Assignment (A product incorrectly assigns a privilege to a particular actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2026-35645?
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-h4jx-hjr3-fhgc",
  "modified" : "2026-04-18T00:44:19Z",
  "published" : "2026-03-29T15:49:34Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-35645" ],
  "summary" : "OpenClaw: Gateway Plugin Subagent Fallback `deleteSession` Uses Synthetic `operator.admin`",
  "details" : "## Summary\n\nGateway Plugin Subagent Fallback `deleteSession` Uses Synthetic `operator.admin`\n\n## Affected Packages / Versions\n\n- Package: `openclaw`\n- Affected versions: `<= 2026.3.24`\n- First patched version: `2026.3.25`\n- Latest published npm version at verification time: `2026.3.24`\n\n## Details\n\nGateway plugin subagent fallback `deleteSession` previously dispatched `sessions.delete` with a synthetic `operator.admin` runtime scope when no request-scoped client existed. Commit `b5d785f1a59a56c3471f2cef328f7c9a6c15f3e7` binds deletion to the caller scope instead of minting admin scope.\n\nVerified vulnerable on tag `v2026.3.24` and fixed on `main` by commit `b5d785f1a59a56c3471f2cef328f7c9a6c15f3e7`.\n\n## Fix Commit(s)\n\n- `b5d785f1a59a56c3471f2cef328f7c9a6c15f3e7`",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H"
  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "openclaw"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2026.3.28"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 2026.3.24"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-h4jx-hjr3-fhgc"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-35645"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/b5d785f1a59a56c3471f2cef328f7c9a6c15f3e7"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-privilege-escalation-via-synthetic-operator-admin-in-deletesession"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-266", "CWE-648", "CWE-863" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-03-29T15:49:34Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}