CVE-2026-35663: OpenClaw < 2026.3.25 - Privilege Escalation via Backend Reconnect Scope Self-Claim

Severity: high (CVSS 8.8 v3.1)
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 0.3% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2026-04-10 · updated 2026-06-17
Weakness: CWE-648

Description

OpenClaw before 2026.3.25 contains a privilege escalation vulnerability allowing non-admin operators to self-request broader scopes during backend reconnect. Attackers can bypass pairing requirements to reconnect as operator.admin, gaining unauthorized administrative privileges.

Affected products

OpenClaw: before 2026.3.25 — fixed in 2026.3.25

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: OpenClaw 2026.3.25. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/d3d8e316bd819d3c7e34253aeb7eccb2510f5f48
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-9hjh-fr4f-gxc4
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-privilege-escalation-via-backend-reconnect-scope-self-claim

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