CVE-2026-44991: OpenClaw Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-c28g-vh7m-fm7v
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CWE-862
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-44991 is a MODERATE remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-862: Missing Authorization) affecting OpenClaw libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves owner-enforced commands could accept wildcard channel senders as command owners. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2026.4.21.

CVE-2026-44991 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-44991
GHSA Identifier GHSA-c28g-vh7m-fm7v
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-862: Missing Authorization
Affected Product OpenClaw
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2026-44991

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: 2026.4.21 
npm install openclaw@2026.4.21
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-2026-44991, 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 2026.4.21), 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-862: Missing Authorization, where the product does not perform an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action. 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

## Impact OpenClaw deployments before `2026.4.21` could treat a non-owner sender as authorized for owner-enforced slash commands when all of the following were true: - a channel plugin declared `commands.enforceOwnerForCommands: true`; - the channel accepted wildcard inbound senders with `allowFrom: ["*"]`; - no explicit `commands.ownerAllowFrom` was configured. In that state, `src/auto-reply/command-auth.ts` reused the channel inbound wildcard as part of the command-owner decision. A sender who was not the owner could therefore pass the owner-command gate for commands such as `/send`, `/config`, or `/debug` on the affected channel. The issue is limited to the command-owner authorization axis. It does not by itself grant owner-only tool access, host/sandbox access, or gateway administrator scope. ## Affected Packages / Versions - Package: `openclaw` on npm - Affected versions: `<= 2026.4.20` - Patched version: `2026.4.21` The latest public release, `2026.4.21`, contains the fix. ## Patches The fix requires a concrete owner identity or internal operator-admin scope when a plugin enforces owner-only commands. Wildcard channel `allowFrom` no longer implies wildcard command ownership. Fix commits: - `2aa93d44a1b2c7058c371f261fda2b5d4de4a882` on `main` - `995febb7b1e811ff6a1df5b18c22de94103f4c9f` in the `2026.4.21` release line ## Workarounds Upgrade to `openclaw@2026.4.21` or later. Before upgrading, avoid wildcard/open-DM sender policy on owner-enforced channels, or configure `commands.ownerAllowFrom` to the intended owner identities. ## Credits OpenClaw thanks @zsxsoft for reporting.

CVE-2026-44991 Affected OpenClaw Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2026.4.21
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
openclaw
npm/openclaw
npm
< 2026.4.21
2026.4.21

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-c28g-vh7m-fm7v
NVD — CVE-2026-44991 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-44991
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/2aa93d44a1b2c7058c371f261fda2b5d4de4a882
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/995febb7b1e811ff6a1df5b18c22de94103f4c9f
OpenClaw Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw
www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw... WEB
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-authorization-bypass-in-owner-enforced-commands-via-wildcard-channel-senders

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-44991?
CVE-2026-44991 is a security vulnerability in OpenClaw involving Owner-enforced commands could accept wildcard channel senders as command owners under CWE-862: Missing Authorization.
Which OpenClaw versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2026.4.21 across affected packages: openclaw.
What version fixes CVE-2026-44991?
Upgrading to 2026.4.21 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is openclaw affected?
Yes, openclaw is affected in releases prior to 2026.4.21. Upgrade your dependency to 2026.4.21 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-44991?
CVE-2026-44991 is classified under CWE-862: Missing Authorization (The product does not perform an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2026-44991?
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-c28g-vh7m-fm7v",
  "modified" : "2026-05-19T15:56:06Z",
  "published" : "2026-04-29T21:27:05Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-44991" ],
  "summary" : "OpenClaw: Owner-enforced commands could accept wildcard channel senders as command owners",
  "details" : "## Impact\n\nOpenClaw deployments before `2026.4.21` could treat a non-owner sender as authorized for owner-enforced slash commands when all of the following were true:\n\n- a channel plugin declared `commands.enforceOwnerForCommands: true`;\n- the channel accepted wildcard inbound senders with `allowFrom: [\"*\"]`;\n- no explicit `commands.ownerAllowFrom` was configured.\n\nIn that state, `src/auto-reply/command-auth.ts` reused the channel inbound wildcard as part of the command-owner decision. A sender who was not the owner could therefore pass the owner-command gate for commands such as `/send`, `/config`, or `/debug` on the affected channel.\n\nThe issue is limited to the command-owner authorization axis. It does not by itself grant owner-only tool access, host/sandbox access, or gateway administrator scope.\n\n## Affected Packages / Versions\n\n- Package: `openclaw` on npm\n- Affected versions: `<= 2026.4.20`\n- Patched version: `2026.4.21`\n\nThe latest public release, `2026.4.21`, contains the fix.\n\n## Patches\n\nThe fix requires a concrete owner identity or internal operator-admin scope when a plugin enforces owner-only commands. Wildcard channel `allowFrom` no longer implies wildcard command ownership.\n\nFix commits:\n\n- `2aa93d44a1b2c7058c371f261fda2b5d4de4a882` on `main`\n- `995febb7b1e811ff6a1df5b18c22de94103f4c9f` in the `2026.4.21` release line\n\n## Workarounds\n\nUpgrade to `openclaw@2026.4.21` or later. Before upgrading, avoid wildcard/open-DM sender policy on owner-enforced channels, or configure `commands.ownerAllowFrom` to the intended owner identities.\n\n## Credits\n\nOpenClaw thanks @zsxsoft for reporting.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "openclaw"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2026.4.21"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 2026.4.20"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-c28g-vh7m-fm7v"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-44991"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/2aa93d44a1b2c7058c371f261fda2b5d4de4a882"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/995febb7b1e811ff6a1df5b18c22de94103f4c9f"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-authorization-bypass-in-owner-enforced-commands-via-wildcard-channel-senders"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-862" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-04-29T21:27:05Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}