Auth bypass in Openclaw
CVE-2026-42426
OpenClaw before 2026.4.8 contains an improper authorization vulnerability where the node.pair.approve method accepts operator.write scope instead of the narrower operator.pairing scope, allowing unprivileged users to approve node pairing. Attackers with operator.write permissions can bypass pairing approval restrictions to gain unauthorized access to exec-capable nodes.
Vulnerability class: Broken Access Control
Published · last modified .
CVSS v3 metric
CVSS v3 base score 8.8 (High). Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
EPSS exploit prediction
EPSS: 0.005 (41.6th percentile), scored .
Very low probability of exploitation in the next 30 days; routine patching cadence is appropriate. 42nd percentile — 41.6% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.
EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.003 · newest: 0.005 · change: +0.002
Affected products
- Openclaw — versions 0, 2026.4.8
Weakness classification (CWE)
References
- github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-67mf-f936-ppxf (vendor-advisory, Vendor Advisory)
- github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/d7c3210cd6f5fdfdc1beff4c9541673e814354d5 (Patch, patch)
- www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-improper-authorization-in-node-pair-appro… (Third Party Advisory, third-party-advisory)
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2026-42426?
- CVE-2026-42426 is a high-severity vulnerability in Openclaw, classified under Incorrect Authorization. CVSS score: 8.8/10. Published 2026-04-28.
- How severe is CVE-2026-42426?
- High severity. CVSS v3 base score is 8.8 out of 10.