CVE-2026-43576: OpenClaw CDP /json/version WebSocket URL Could Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-f7fh-qg34-x2xh
CVSS 7.7
CWE-601 CWE-918
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-43576 is a MODERATE (CVSS 7.7) cdp /json/version websocket url could vulnerability (CWE-601: URL Redirection to Untrusted Site ('Open Redirect')) affecting OpenClaw libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves cdp /json/version websocket url could pivot to untrusted second-hop targets. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2026.4.5.

CVE-2026-43576 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-43576
GHSA Identifier GHSA-f7fh-qg34-x2xh
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.7
CWE Classification CWE-601: URL Redirection to Untrusted Site ('Open Redirect')
Affected Product OpenClaw
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.7

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

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

How to Fix CVE-2026-43576

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: 2026.4.5
npm install openclaw@2026.4.5
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-2026-43576, 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 2026.4.5), 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-601: URL Redirection to Untrusted Site ('Open Redirect'), where the web application accepts a user-controlled input that specifies a link to an external site, and uses that link in a redirect. 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 CDP /json/version WebSocket URL could pivot to untrusted second-hop targets. ## Affected Packages / Versions - Package: `openclaw` - Ecosystem: npm - Affected versions: `< 2026.4.5` - Patched versions: `>= 2026.4.5` ## Impact A browser profile could trust a CDP `/json/version` response whose `webSocketDebuggerUrl` pointed at a different host, enabling a second-hop SSRF-style pivot. ## Technical Details The fix normalizes and re-validates direct CDP WebSocket targets before connecting. ## Fix The issue was fixed in #60469. The first stable tag containing the fix is `v2026.4.5`, and `openclaw@2026.4.14` includes the fix. ## Fix Commit(s) - `bc356cc8c2beaa747c71dd86cceab8f804699665` - PR: #60469 ## Release Process Note Users should upgrade to `openclaw` 2026.4.5 or newer. The latest npm release, `2026.4.14`, already includes the fix. ## Credits Thanks to @tdjackey for reporting this issue.

CVE-2026-43576 Affected OpenClaw Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2026.4.5
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
openclaw
npm
< 2026.4.5
2026.4.5

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-43576?
CVE-2026-43576 is a security vulnerability in OpenClaw involving CDP /json/version WebSocket URL could pivot to untrusted second-hop targets under CWE-601: URL Redirection to Untrusted Site ('Open Redirect').
Which OpenClaw versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2026.4.5 across affected packages: openclaw.
What version fixes CVE-2026-43576?
Upgrading to 2026.4.5 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is openclaw affected?
Yes, openclaw is affected in releases prior to 2026.4.5. Upgrade your dependency to 2026.4.5 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-43576?
CVE-2026-43576 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.7 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-43576?
CVE-2026-43576 is classified under CWE-601: URL Redirection to Untrusted Site ('Open Redirect') (The web application accepts a user-controlled input that specifies a link to an external site, and uses that link in a redirect.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2026-43576?
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
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-f7fh-qg34-x2xh",
  "modified" : "2026-05-12T13:34:48Z",
  "published" : "2026-04-17T22:18:28Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-43576" ],
  "summary" : "OpenClaw: CDP /json/version WebSocket URL could pivot to untrusted second-hop targets",
  "details" : "## Summary\n\nCDP /json/version WebSocket URL could pivot to untrusted second-hop targets.\n\n## Affected Packages / Versions\n\n- Package: `openclaw`\n- Ecosystem: npm\n- Affected versions: `< 2026.4.5`\n- Patched versions: `>= 2026.4.5`\n\n## Impact\n\nA browser profile could trust a CDP `/json/version` response whose `webSocketDebuggerUrl` pointed at a different host, enabling a second-hop SSRF-style pivot.\n\n## Technical Details\n\nThe fix normalizes and re-validates direct CDP WebSocket targets before connecting.\n\n## Fix\n\nThe issue was fixed in #60469. The first stable tag containing the fix is `v2026.4.5`, and `openclaw@2026.4.14` includes the fix.\n\n## Fix Commit(s)\n\n- `bc356cc8c2beaa747c71dd86cceab8f804699665`\n- PR: #60469\n\n## Release Process Note\n\nUsers should upgrade to `openclaw` 2026.4.5 or newer. The latest npm release, `2026.4.14`, already includes the fix.\n\n## Credits\n\nThanks to @tdjackey for reporting this issue.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N"
  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:N/SC:H/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "openclaw"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2026.4.5"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-f7fh-qg34-x2xh"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-43576"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/pull/60469"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/bc356cc8c2beaa747c71dd86cceab8f804699665"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-second-hop-ssrf-via-cdp-json-version-websocket-url"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-601", "CWE-918" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-04-17T22:18:28Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}