OpenClaw: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel
CVE-2026-32004 is a high-severity authentication bypass using an alternate path or channel vulnerability in OpenClaw, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.2 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version 2026.3.2 as the first without the flaw, so updating OpenClaw to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.34% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update OpenClaw to 2026.3.2 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- LowSome restricted data can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:N. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 8.3 | High | CNA (vulncheck.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 6.5 | Medium | CNA (vulncheck.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.2 | High | NVD |
Official description
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.3.2 contain an authentication bypass vulnerability in the /api/channels route classification due to canonicalization depth mismatch between auth-path classification and route-path canonicalization. Attackers can bypass plugin route authentication checks by submitting deeply encoded slash variants such as multi-encoded %2f to access protected /api/channels endpoints.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel
The product requires authentication, but the product has an alternate path or channel that does not require authentication.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Funnel all access through a single choke point to simplify how users can access a resource. For every access, perform a check to determine if the user has permissions to access the resource.
More Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel vulnerabilities (CWE-288)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
- github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/2fd8264ab03bd178e62a5f0c50d1c8556c17f12d
- github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/7a7eee920a176a0043398c6b37bf4cc6eb983eeb
- github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/93b07240257919f770d1e263e1f22753937b80ea
- github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/d74bc257d8432f17e50b23ae713d7e0623a1fe0f
Third-party and government advisories
Other vulnerabilities in OpenClaw
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.3 High severity
- 8.3 High severity
Recent Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel vulnerabilities
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.3 Critical severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
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