GHSA-hfpr-jhpq-x4rm json
OpenClaw: `operator.write` chat.send could reach admin-only config writes
published 8mo ago modified 8mo ago
- cvss
- 4.3
- version 3.1, GitHub
- cisa kev
- Not listed
- not in CISA's catalog
- epss
- —
- no score, EPSS covers CVEs only
- public exploits
- 0
- none known
Summary
### Summary A gateway client authenticated with `operator.write` could route `/config set` or `/config unset` through `chat.send` and reach persistent config mutation even though direct config RPC methods are admin-scoped.
### Affected Packages / Versions - Package: `openclaw` (npm) - Latest published vulnerable version: `2026.3.2` - Affected range: `<= 2026.3.2` - Patched in: `2026.3.7`
### Details Before the fix, `chat.send` ran slash commands in an internal gateway-chat context with `CommandAuthorized: true`, and `/config` write paths only checked command authorization plus `commands.config` / `channels.<provider>.configWrites` gates. That allowed an authenticated `operator.write` gateway client to bridge into persistent config writes even though direct `config.*` RPC methods remain `operator.admin` scoped.
The fix keeps command functionality intact while restoring the intended scope boundary: - persistent `/config set|unset` writes routed through gateway `chat.send` now require `operator.admin` - read-only `/config show` remains available to normal write-scoped gateway clients - normal messaging-channel `/config` behavior remains unchanged
### Impact This is a real authorization mismatch, but exploitability requires an already authenticated gateway client with `operator.write`, `chat.send` access, and `/config` command support enabled. Maintainer severity is set to medium because the bug is a scoped control-plane privilege mismatch rather than a broad unauthenticated or generic remote compromise. The main consequence is unintended persistent config mutation.
### Fix Commit(s) - `5f8f58ae25e2a78f31b06edcf26532d634ca554e`
### Release Process Note npm `2026.3.7` was published on March 8, 2026. This advisory is fixed in the released package.
Thanks @tdjackey for reporting.
Patch / fix
- npm openclaw 2026.3.7
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Check with FencerCVSS scores
| assigned by | version | score | vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| GitHub | 3.1 | 4.3 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N |
Affected packages
| ecosystem | package | affected | fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm | openclaw | <2026.3.7 |
2026.3.7 |
Classification
- Weakness
-
- CWE-863 Incorrect Authorization
References
Sources
- GitHub Advisory GHSA-hfpr-jhpq-x4rm
- Maintainer advisory GHSA-hfpr-jhpq-x4rm
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The maintainers of openclaw/openclaw published their own advisory on GitHub. Reviewed sources take precedence over it.