📄 Description (English)
OpenClaw before 2026.4.9 contains an authentication bypass vulnerability allowing untrusted workspace plugins to be auto-enabled during non-interactive onboarding when provider auth choices are shadowed. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious workspace plugins that are automatically selected and enabled during authentication setup without explicit user consent.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
OpenClaw before version 2026.4.9 contains a critical authentication bypass vulnerability (CVE-2026-43569) that allows malicious workspace plugins to be automatically enabled during non-interactive onboarding without user consent. Attackers can exploit shadowed provider authentication choices to inject and activate untrusted plugins, potentially compromising system integrity and user data. This vulnerability affects Node.js-based OpenClaw deployments and requires immediate patching to prevent unauthorized plugin execution.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: May 9, 2026 12:00
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
This vulnerability poses significant risk to Saudi organizations utilizing OpenClaw for development and automation workflows. Primary impact sectors include: (1) Government agencies and NCA-regulated entities using OpenClaw for secure development pipelines; (2) Banking and financial institutions (SAMA-regulated) employing OpenClaw in CI/CD infrastructure; (3) Telecommunications providers (STC, Mobily) using OpenClaw for network automation; (4) Energy sector (ARAMCO, SEC) relying on OpenClaw for critical infrastructure automation; (5) Healthcare organizations using OpenClaw for medical system deployments. The authentication bypass enables supply chain attacks where malicious plugins execute with system privileges, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system compromise, and regulatory violations under NCA ECC 2024 and SAMA CSF frameworks.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Government and Public Administration
Banking and Financial Services
Telecommunications
Energy and Utilities
Healthcare
Defense and Security
Critical Infrastructure
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
T1547.004 - Boot or Logon Initialization Scripts (plugin auto-execution)
T1547.013 - PowerShell Profile (malicious plugin initialization)
T1547.014 - Browser Extensions (workspace plugin injection)
T1199 - Trusted Relationship (supply chain attack via plugins)
T1195.002 - Compromise Software Supply Chain (malicious plugin distribution)
T1078.001 - Valid Accounts (authentication bypass exploitation)
T1556 - Modify Authentication Process (shadow authentication choices)
T1036.005 - Match Legitimate Name or Location (disguised malicious plugins)
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
8.2
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Identify all OpenClaw instances in your environment and document current versions
2. Disable non-interactive onboarding workflows immediately until patching is complete
3. Review workspace plugin configurations and remove any suspicious or unauthorized plugins
4. Audit authentication logs for unusual plugin enablement patterns
PATCHING GUIDANCE:
1. Upgrade OpenClaw to version 2026.4.9 or later immediately
2. For Node.js deployments, update package.json dependencies and run 'npm audit fix'
3. Restart all OpenClaw services after patching
4. Verify plugin integrity using cryptographic signatures post-upgrade
COMPENSATING CONTROLS (if immediate patching delayed):
1. Implement network segmentation to restrict plugin download sources
2. Enable strict Content Security Policy (CSP) headers for OpenClaw interfaces
3. Require explicit manual approval for all workspace plugin installations
4. Implement application-level monitoring for unauthorized plugin execution
5. Restrict OpenClaw service account permissions to minimum required privileges
DETECTION RULES:
1. Monitor for plugin enablement events during non-interactive sessions
2. Alert on plugin installations from untrusted or external sources
3. Track authentication bypass attempts in OpenClaw logs
4. Monitor for unexpected workspace plugin modifications
5. Implement file integrity monitoring on plugin directories
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. حدد جميع نسخ OpenClaw في بيئتك وتوثيق الإصدارات الحالية
2. عطّل سير العمل غير التفاعلي فوراً حتى يتم إكمال التصحيح
3. راجع تكوينات المكونات الإضافية للمساحة العملية وأزل أي مكونات مريبة أو غير مصرح بها
4. تدقيق سجلات المصادقة للبحث عن أنماط تفعيل المكونات الإضافية غير العادية
إرشادات التصحيح:
1. قم بترقية OpenClaw إلى الإصدار 2026.4.9 أو أحدث فوراً
2. لنشرات Node.js، قم بتحديث تبعيات package.json وتشغيل 'npm audit fix'
3. أعد تشغيل جميع خدمات OpenClaw بعد التصحيح
4. تحقق من سلامة المكونات الإضافية باستخدام التوقيعات التشفيرية بعد الترقية
الضوابط البديلة (إذا تأخر التصحيح الفوري):
1. تنفيذ تقسيم الشبكة لتقييد مصادر تنزيل المكونات الإضافية
2. تفعيل رؤوس سياسة أمان المحتوى الصارمة لواجهات OpenClaw
3. طلب الموافقة اليدوية الصريحة لجميع تثبيتات المكونات الإضافية للمساحة العملية
4. تنفيذ المراقبة على مستوى التطبيق لتنفيذ المكونات الإضافية غير المصرح به
5. تقييد أذونات حساب خدمة OpenClaw للحد الأدنى المطلوب
قواعد الكشف:
1. مراقبة أحداث تفعيل المكونات الإضافية أثناء الجلسات غير التفاعلية
2. تنبيه على تثبيتات المكونات الإضافية من مصادر غير موثوقة أو خارجية
3. تتبع محاولات تجاوز المصادقة في سجلات OpenClaw
4. مراقبة التعديلات غير المتوقعة على المكونات الإضافية للمساحة العملية
5. تنفيذ مراقبة سلامة الملفات على أدلة المكونات الإضافية
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
ECC 2024 A.5.1.1 - Access Control Policies (authentication bypass circumvents access controls)
ECC 2024 A.5.2.1 - User Registration and Access Rights Management (unauthorized plugin execution)
ECC 2024 A.6.1.2 - Malware Protection (malicious plugin execution)
ECC 2024 A.12.2.1 - Change Management (unauthorized plugin installation)
ECC 2024 A.12.6.1 - Management of Technical Vulnerabilities (CVE remediation)
🔵 SAMA CSF
SAMA CSF ID.AM-1 - Asset Management (inventory OpenClaw instances)
SAMA CSF PR.AC-1 - Access Control (authentication bypass mitigation)
SAMA CSF PR.DS-2 - Data Security (prevent unauthorized data access via plugins)
SAMA CSF DE.CM-1 - Detection and Analysis (monitor plugin execution)
SAMA CSF RS.RP-1 - Response Planning (incident response for compromised systems)
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
ISO 27001:2022 A.5.3 - Segregation of Duties (plugin execution controls)
ISO 27001:2022 A.8.1 - User Endpoint Devices (secure plugin management)
ISO 27001:2022 A.8.2 - Privileged Access Rights (restrict plugin execution privileges)
ISO 27001:2022 A.8.3 - Information Access Restriction (prevent unauthorized plugin access)
ISO 27001:2022 A.12.6 - Management of Technical Vulnerabilities (patch management)
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
PCI DSS 2.4 - Document and Implement Security Configuration Standards (OpenClaw hardening)
PCI DSS 6.2 - Security Patches (timely patching of CVE-2026-43569)
PCI DSS 8.1 - User Identification and Authentication (authentication bypass prevention)
🔗 References & Sources 3
🔗
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/2d97eae53e212ae26f3aebcd6a50ffc6877f770d
disclosure@vulncheck.com
Patch
🔗
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-939r-rj45-g2rj
disclosure@vulncheck.com
Vendor Advisory
🔗
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-untrusted-provider-plugin-auto-enablement...
disclosure@vulncheck.com
Third Party Advisory
📦 Affected Products / CPE 1 entries
openclaw:openclaw