CVE-2026-44118

OpenClaw < 2026.4.22 - Owner Context Spoofing via Bearer Token Header

Published May 6, 2026 CVSS 4.0 · 8.5 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed

Description

OpenClaw before 2026.4.22 derives loopback MCP owner context from spoofable server-issued bearer tokens in request headers. Non-owner loopback clients can present themselves as owner to bypass owner-gated operations by manipulating the sender-owner header metadata.

Analysis

Technical impact

OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.4.22 derive loopback MCP owner context from bearer tokens that can be spoofed in request headers. A non‑owner loopback client can manipulate the sender‑owner header metadata to present itself as the owner, thereby bypassing operations that are restricted to the owner. This vulnerability falls under CWE‑290 (Authentication Spoofing) and enables unauthorized privileged actions that could lead to system compromise.

Affected Systems

The affected product is OpenClaw, versions before 2026.4.22. All installations of the OpenClaw application running these versions are potentially impacted.

Risk and Exploitability

The CVSS score of 8.5 indicates high severity. The EPSS score is not available and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog. The likely attack vector is remote, as the flaw is triggered by sending a forged bearer token in the HTTP header to the loopback interface; an attacker with network access or the ability to form such requests can exploit the issue.

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	< 2026.4.22
`2026.4.22`	unaffected	—

Configuration 1 [-]

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

No data.

Vendor Product Versions

Openclaw

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[0,2026.4.22)`	affected	semver	['node.js']
`2026.4.22`	unaffected	semver	['node.js']

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

Apply the OpenClaw update to version 2026.4.22 or later to correct the owner‑context authentication logic.
Modify the application configuration or code to validate that bearer tokens used for owner‑gated operations are issued by an authoritative token service and cannot be forged via HTTP headers.
If an immediate upgrade is not feasible, temporarily disable the owner‑gated functionality or enforce strict ownership checks at the application level to prevent impersonation until the patch is applied.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on May 6, 2026 at 21:27 UTC.

Tracking

Advisories

Source	ID	Title
Github GHSA	GHSA-r6xh-pqhr-v4xh	OpenClaw: MCP loopback owner context is derived from server-issued bearer tokens

Metrics

Attack Vector Local

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required Low

Attack Requirements None

User Interaction None

Vulnerable System Confidentiality Impact High

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 Local

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required Low

Scope Unchanged

Confidentiality Impact High

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% (0.135% probability within 30 days)

Exploitation none

Automatable no

Technical Impact total

References

Link	Providers
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/3cb1a56bfc9579a0f2336f9cfa12a8a744332a19
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-r6xh-pqhr-v4xh
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-owner-context-spoofing-via-bearer-token-header

History

May 7, 2026 6:15 PM Scoring metrics updated View changes

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

May 6, 2026 8:15 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 2026.4.22 derives loopback MCP owner context from spoofable server-issued bearer tokens in request headers. Non-owner loopback clients can present themselves as owner to bypass owner-gated operations by manipulating the sender-owner header metadata.
Title		OpenClaw < 2026.4.22 - Owner Context Spoofing via Bearer Token Header
First Time appeared		Openclaw Openclaw openclaw
Weaknesses		CWE-290
CPEs		cpe:2.3:a:openclaw:openclaw::::::node.js::*
Vendors & Products		Openclaw Openclaw openclaw
References		https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/3cb1a56bfc9579a0f2336f9cfa12a8a744332a19 https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-r6xh-pqhr-v4xh https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-owner-context-spoofing-via-bearer-token-header
Metrics		cvssV3_1 `{'score': 7.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}` cvssV4_0 `{'score': 8.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}`