CVE-2026-43585: OpenClaw < 2026.4.15 - Bearer Token Validation Bypass via Stale SecretRef Resolution

Severity: critical (CVSS 9.8 v3.1)
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 0.5% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2026-05-06 · updated 2026-06-17
Weakness: CWE-672

Description

OpenClaw before 2026.4.15 captures resolved bearer-auth configuration at startup, allowing revoked tokens to remain valid after SecretRef rotation. Gateway HTTP and WebSocket handlers fail to re-resolve authentication per-request, enabling attackers to use rotated-out bearer tokens for unauthorized gateway access.

Affected products

OpenClaw: before 2026.4.15 — fixed in 2026.4.15

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: OpenClaw 2026.4.15. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/acd4e0a32f12e1ad85f3130f63b42443ce90f094
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-xmxx-7p24-h892
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-bearer-token-validation-bypass-via-stale-secretref-resolution

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