📄 Description (English)
OpenClaw before 2026.3.31 contains an incomplete scope-clearing vulnerability in trusted-proxy authentication mode that allows operator.admin privilege escalation. Attackers can exploit this by declaring operator scopes on non-Control-UI clients, allowing self-declared scopes to persist on identity-bearing authentication paths and escalate privileges.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
OpenClaw versions before 2026.3.31 contain a critical privilege escalation vulnerability in trusted-proxy authentication mode that allows attackers to escalate to operator.admin privileges through incomplete scope-clearing. Attackers can declare operator scopes on non-Control-UI clients, causing self-declared scopes to persist on identity-bearing authentication paths. This vulnerability poses significant risk to organizations using OpenClaw for identity and access management, particularly those relying on trusted-proxy authentication configurations.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: May 4, 2026 03:49
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
This vulnerability poses significant risk to Saudi government agencies, financial institutions, and large enterprises using OpenClaw for identity and access management. High-risk sectors include: (1) Banking sector and SAMA-regulated institutions relying on OpenClaw for authentication infrastructure; (2) Government entities under NCA oversight using OpenClaw for identity management; (3) Telecommunications providers (STC, Mobily, Zain) managing operator access controls; (4) Healthcare organizations managing privileged access; (5) Energy sector organizations including ARAMCO subsidiaries. The privilege escalation to operator.admin level could enable unauthorized access to critical systems, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within enterprise networks.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Banking and Financial Services
Government and Public Administration
Telecommunications
Healthcare
Energy and Utilities
Large Enterprises with Identity Management Infrastructure
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
8.2
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Identify all OpenClaw deployments in your environment and document versions currently in use
2. Audit trusted-proxy authentication configurations and review recent authentication logs for suspicious scope declarations
3. Implement network segmentation to restrict access to OpenClaw administrative interfaces
4. Enable enhanced logging and monitoring for authentication events, particularly scope-related activities
PATCHING GUIDANCE:
1. Upgrade OpenClaw to version 2026.3.31 or later immediately
2. Test patches in non-production environments first, particularly for critical authentication systems
3. Coordinate patching with change management to minimize service disruption
4. Verify scope-clearing functionality post-patch through authentication testing
COMPENSATING CONTROLS (if immediate patching not possible):
1. Disable trusted-proxy authentication mode if not essential; use alternative authentication methods
2. Implement strict access controls limiting who can declare operator scopes
3. Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious scope declarations
4. Restrict non-Control-UI client connections to OpenClaw
DETECTION RULES:
1. Monitor for authentication requests containing unexpected operator scope declarations from non-Control-UI clients
2. Alert on privilege escalation events where operator.admin privileges are granted to non-administrative users
3. Track scope persistence across multiple authentication sessions
4. Log and alert on any modifications to trusted-proxy authentication configurations
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. حدد جميع نشرات OpenClaw في بيئتك وقم بتوثيق الإصدارات المستخدمة حالياً
2. قم بتدقيق تكوينات المصادقة الموثوقة للوكيل ومراجعة سجلات المصادقة الأخيرة للبحث عن إعلانات نطاق مريبة
3. تنفيذ تقسيم الشبكة لتقييد الوصول إلى واجهات إدارة OpenClaw
4. تفعيل السجلات المحسنة والمراقبة لأحداث المصادقة، خاصة الأنشطة المتعلقة بالنطاق
إرشادات التصحيح:
1. قم بترقية OpenClaw إلى الإصدار 2026.3.31 أو أحدث على الفور
2. اختبر التصحيحات في بيئات غير الإنتاج أولاً، خاصة لأنظمة المصادقة الحرجة
3. قم بتنسيق التصحيح مع إدارة التغيير لتقليل انقطاع الخدمة
4. تحقق من وظيفة مسح النطاق بعد التصحيح من خلال اختبار المصادقة
الضوابط البديلة (إذا لم يكن التصحيح الفوري ممكناً):
1. قم بتعطيل وضع المصادقة الموثوقة للوكيل إذا لم يكن ضرورياً؛ استخدم طرق مصادقة بديلة
2. تنفيذ ضوابط وصول صارمة تحد من يمكنه إعلان نطاقات المشغل
3. نشر قواعد جدار حماية تطبيقات الويب (WAF) للكشف عن إعلانات النطاق المريبة وحجبها
4. تقييد اتصالات عملاء غير Control-UI بـ OpenClaw
قواعد الكشف:
1. مراقبة طلبات المصادقة التي تحتوي على إعلانات نطاق مشغل غير متوقعة من عملاء غير Control-UI
2. تنبيه على أحداث تصعيد الامتيازات حيث يتم منح امتيازات operator.admin لمستخدمين غير إداريين
3. تتبع استمرار النطاق عبر جلسات مصادقة متعددة
4. تسجيل والتنبيه على أي تعديلات على تكوينات المصادقة الموثوقة للوكيل
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
ECC 2024 A.9.2.1 - User access management and privilege escalation controls
ECC 2024 A.9.4.3 - Authentication and authorization mechanisms
ECC 2024 A.8.2.1 - Access control policies and procedures
ECC 2024 A.12.4.1 - Event logging and monitoring for security events
🔵 SAMA CSF
SAMA CSF ID.AM-2 - Software and hardware inventory
SAMA CSF PR.AC-1 - Access control policy and procedures
SAMA CSF PR.AC-4 - Access rights and privileges management
SAMA CSF DE.CM-1 - System monitoring and anomaly detection
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
ISO 27001:2022 A.5.15 - Access control
ISO 27001:2022 A.8.2 - User access management
ISO 27001:2022 A.8.3 - User responsibilities
ISO 27001:2022 A.8.4 - Access rights review
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
PCI DSS 2.1 - Inventory of system components
PCI DSS 7.1 - Limit access to system components by business need
PCI DSS 8.1 - Assign unique ID to each person with computer access
PCI DSS 10.2 - Implement automated audit trails for access to cardholder data
🔗 References & Sources 3
🔗
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/8b88b927cb0747ad24d95b07d35682bf85dc5b0e
disclosure@vulncheck.com
Patch
🔗
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-g374-mggx-p6xc
disclosure@vulncheck.com
Vendor Advisory
🔗
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-operator-admin-privilege-escalation-via-t...
disclosure@vulncheck.com
Third Party Advisory
📦 Affected Products / CPE 1 entries
openclaw:openclaw