CVE-2026-35645

OpenClaw < 2026.3.25 - Privilege Escalation via Synthetic operator.admin in deleteSession

Published Apr 9, 2026 CVSS 4.0 · 6.1 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed

Description

OpenClaw before 2026.3.25 contains a privilege escalation vulnerability in the gateway plugin subagent fallback deleteSession function that uses a synthetic operator.admin runtime scope. Attackers can exploit this by triggering session deletion without a request-scoped client to execute privileged operations with unintended administrative scope.

Analysis

Technical impact

OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.3.25 allow an attacker to gain administrative privileges by invoking the deleteSession function within the gateway plugin subagent fallback. The function employs a synthetic operator.admin runtime scope and does not require a request‑scoped client, enabling the attacker to execute privileged actions that are normally restricted to an administrative context.

Affected Systems

The affected software is the OpenClaw Node.js application. All releases before 2026.3.25 are impacted. Any deployment that exposes the gateway plugin subagent fallback deleteSession endpoint is vulnerable, regardless of operating platform.

Risk and Exploitability

The CVSS score of 6.1 reflects moderate severity. EPSS data shows a low exploitation probability of <1%. The vulnerability is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog. An attacker who can trigger the deleteSession call without a request‑scoped client can elevate their privileges to administrative scope, potentially performing unauthorized privileged operations. No additional authentication steps are documented in the advisory.

Affected Products

Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).

Vendor Product Default status Versions

OpenClaw

unaffected

Version	Status	Constraints
`0`	affected	< 2026.3.25
`2026.3.25`	unaffected	—

Configuration 1 [-]

cpe:2.3:a:openclaw:openclaw:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:*

No data.

Vendor Product Versions

Openclaw

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[0,2026.3.25)`	affected	semver	—
`2026.3.25`	unaffected	semver	—

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

Upgrade OpenClaw to version 2026.3.25 or later to remove the flaw.
If upgrading is not immediately possible, disable or restrict access to the deleteSession function for non‑administrative users.
Monitor application logs for unexpected session deletions and unauthorized administrative activity.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on April 16, 2026 at 09:13 UTC.

Tracking

Advisories

Source	ID	Title
Github GHSA	GHSA-h4jx-hjr3-fhgc	OpenClaw: Gateway Plugin Subagent Fallback `deleteSession` Uses Synthetic `operator.admin`

Metrics

Attack Vector Network

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required Low

Attack Requirements Present

User Interaction None

Vulnerable System Confidentiality Impact None

Vulnerable System Integrity Impact High

Vulnerable System Availability Impact High

Subsequent System Confidentiality Impact None

Subsequent System Integrity Impact None

Subsequent System Availability Impact None

Attack Vector Network

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required Low

Scope Unchanged

Confidentiality Impact None

Integrity Impact High

Availability Impact High

User Interaction None

No CVSS v3.0

No CVSS v2

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

Exploit prediction score: < 1% (0.285% probability within 30 days)

Exploitation none

Automatable no

Technical Impact partial

References

Link	Providers
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/b5d785f1a59a56c3471f2cef328f7c9a6c15f3e7
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-h4jx-hjr3-fhgc
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-privilege-escalation-via-synthetic-operator-admin-in-deletesession

History

Apr 15, 2026 7:30 PM Weaknesses updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Weaknesses		CWE-863

Apr 10, 2026 6:15 PM Scoring metrics updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Metrics		ssvc `{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}`

Apr 9, 2026 9:45 PM Description updated. Title updated. First appearance in the feed. Weaknesses updated. Affected versions updated. Affected vendors updated. Added references. Scoring metrics updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Description		OpenClaw before 2026.3.25 contains a privilege escalation vulnerability in the gateway plugin subagent fallback deleteSession function that uses a synthetic operator.admin runtime scope. Attackers can exploit this by triggering session deletion without a request-scoped client to execute privileged operations with unintended administrative scope.
Title		OpenClaw < 2026.3.25 - Privilege Escalation via Synthetic operator.admin in deleteSession
First Time appeared		Openclaw Openclaw openclaw
Weaknesses		CWE-648
CPEs		cpe:2.3:a:openclaw:openclaw::::::node.js::*
Vendors & Products		Openclaw Openclaw openclaw
References		https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/b5d785f1a59a56c3471f2cef328f7c9a6c15f3e7 https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-h4jx-hjr3-fhgc https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-privilege-escalation-via-synthetic-operator-admin-in-deletesession
Metrics		cvssV3_1 `{'score': 8.1, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H'}` cvssV4_0 `{'score': 6.1, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}`