CVE-2026-53818: OpenClaw MCP Loopback Could Skip Owner-only Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-rj6p-xmxr-qj4h
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CVSS 6.6
CWE-862
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-53818 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.6) mcp loopback could skip owner-only vulnerability (CWE-862: Missing Authorization) affecting OpenClaw libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves mcp loopback could skip owner-only tool policy for non-owner callers. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2026.4.24.

CVE-2026-53818 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-53818
GHSA Identifier GHSA-rj6p-xmxr-qj4h
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.6
CWE Classification CWE-862: Missing Authorization
Affected Product OpenClaw
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.6

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:L).

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

How to Fix CVE-2026-53818

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: 2026.4.24 
npm install openclaw@2026.4.24
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-2026-53818, 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 2026.4.24), 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

### Summary MCP loopback could skip owner-only tool policy for non-owner callers. In affected versions, a non-owner caller reaching the affected loopback path could skip owner-only tool policy and before-tool-call hooks. This advisory is scoped to the named feature and configuration. It does not change OpenClaw's trusted-operator model: authenticated Gateway operators, installed plugins, and intentional local execution surfaces remain trusted unless a separate policy, approval, allowlist, sandbox, or auth boundary is crossed. ### Impact When the affected feature is enabled and reachable, this could invoke owner-only behavior through that loopback path. Practical impact depends on the operator's configuration and whether lower-trust input can reach that path. ### Resolution Update to a patched OpenClaw release when one is listed for this advisory. If the Patched versions field is populated, use that version or later. ### Mitigations restrict MCP loopback access to trusted operators until patched. As general hardening, keep channel and tool allowlists narrow, avoid sharing one Gateway between mutually untrusted users, and disable the affected feature when it is not needed.

CVE-2026-53818 Affected OpenClaw Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2026.4.24
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
openclaw
npm/openclaw
npm
< 2026.4.24
2026.4.24

References

www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw... WEB
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-owner-only-tool-policy-bypass-via-mcp-loopback
GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-rj6p-xmxr-qj4h
NVD — CVE-2026-53818 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-53818
OpenClaw Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-53818?
CVE-2026-53818 is a security vulnerability in OpenClaw involving MCP loopback could skip owner-only tool policy for non-owner callers under CWE-862: Missing Authorization.
Which OpenClaw versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2026.4.24 across affected packages: openclaw.
What version fixes CVE-2026-53818?
Upgrading to 2026.4.24 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is openclaw affected?
Yes, openclaw is affected in releases prior to 2026.4.24. Upgrade your dependency to 2026.4.24 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-53818?
CVE-2026-53818 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.6 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:L.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-53818?
CVE-2026-53818 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-2026-53818?
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-rj6p-xmxr-qj4h",
  "modified" : "2026-07-02T17:13:42Z",
  "published" : "2026-07-02T17:11:35Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-53818" ],
  "summary" : "OpenClaw: MCP loopback could skip owner-only tool policy for non-owner callers",
  "details" : "### Summary\n\nMCP loopback could skip owner-only tool policy for non-owner callers. In affected versions, a non-owner caller reaching the affected loopback path could skip owner-only tool policy and before-tool-call hooks.\n\nThis advisory is scoped to the named feature and configuration. It does not change OpenClaw's trusted-operator model: authenticated Gateway operators, installed plugins, and intentional local execution surfaces remain trusted unless a separate policy, approval, allowlist, sandbox, or auth boundary is crossed.\n\n### Impact\n\nWhen the affected feature is enabled and reachable, this could invoke owner-only behavior through that loopback path. Practical impact depends on the operator's configuration and whether lower-trust input can reach that path.\n\n### Resolution\n\nUpdate to a patched OpenClaw release when one is listed for this advisory. If the Patched versions field is populated, use that version or later.\n\n### Mitigations\n\nrestrict MCP loopback access to trusted operators until patched. As general hardening, keep channel and tool allowlists narrow, avoid sharing one Gateway between mutually untrusted users, and disable the affected feature when it is not needed.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:L"
  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:H/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "openclaw"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2026.4.24"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-rj6p-xmxr-qj4h"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-53818"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-owner-only-tool-policy-bypass-via-mcp-loopback"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-862" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-07-02T17:11:35Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-06-11T21:16:24Z"
  }
}