📄 Description (English)
OpenClaw before 2026.4.22 derives loopback MCP owner context from spoofable server-issued bearer tokens in request headers. Non-owner loopback clients can present themselves as owner to bypass owner-gated operations by manipulating the sender-owner header metadata.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
OpenClaw versions before 2026.4.22 contain an authentication bypass vulnerability where non-owner loopback clients can impersonate the owner by manipulating bearer tokens in request headers. This allows attackers to bypass owner-gated operations and gain unauthorized access to sensitive functionality. The vulnerability affects Node.js implementations and requires immediate patching as it enables privilege escalation in loopback environments.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: May 11, 2026 19:01
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
This vulnerability poses significant risk to Saudi organizations using OpenClaw in Node.js environments, particularly: (1) Banking sector (SAMA-regulated institutions) - if OpenClaw is used in payment processing or API gateway infrastructure; (2) Government agencies (NCA oversight) - if deployed in internal service-to-service authentication; (3) Telecommunications (STC, Mobily) - if used in network management or API authentication layers; (4) Healthcare providers - if integrated into patient data access controls; (5) Energy sector (ARAMCO, utilities) - if used in operational technology API authentication. The authentication bypass could allow lateral movement and unauthorized access to critical backend services.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Banking and Financial Services
Government and Public Administration
Telecommunications
Healthcare and Medical Services
Energy and Utilities
Technology and Software Development
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
T1078 - Valid Accounts (authentication bypass)
T1550 - Use Alternate Authentication Material (token manipulation)
T1550.001 - Use Alternate Authentication Material: Application Access Token
T1556 - Modify Authentication Process
T1134 - Access Token Manipulation
T1548 - Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
7.8
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Identify all OpenClaw deployments in your Node.js infrastructure - audit package.json and dependency trees
2. Check current version: npm list openclaw or yarn list openclaw
3. Isolate affected systems from production traffic if version < 2026.4.22
PATCHING GUIDANCE:
1. Update to OpenClaw 2026.4.22 or later: npm update openclaw@latest or yarn upgrade openclaw@latest
2. Test in staging environment before production deployment
3. Restart all Node.js services using OpenClaw after patching
4. Verify bearer token validation is functioning correctly post-patch
COMPENSATING CONTROLS (if immediate patching not possible):
1. Implement network-level access controls restricting loopback client connections
2. Deploy WAF rules to detect and block requests with manipulated sender-owner headers
3. Enable request logging and monitoring for bearer token anomalies
4. Implement mutual TLS (mTLS) for loopback communications to prevent header spoofing
5. Use API gateway to validate owner context independently of client-supplied headers
DETECTION RULES:
1. Monitor for requests with mismatched sender-owner header values vs. authenticated user context
2. Alert on bearer token reuse across different client identities
3. Log all owner-gated operation attempts and cross-reference with user permissions
4. Detect rapid authentication failures followed by successful owner-level operations
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تحديد جميع نشرات OpenClaw في بنية Node.js الخاصة بك - تدقيق package.json وأشجار التبعيات
2. التحقق من الإصدار الحالي: npm list openclaw أو yarn list openclaw
3. عزل الأنظمة المتأثرة عن حركة الإنتاج إذا كان الإصدار < 2026.4.22
إرشادات التصحيح:
1. التحديث إلى OpenClaw 2026.4.22 أو أحدث: npm update openclaw@latest أو yarn upgrade openclaw@latest
2. الاختبار في بيئة التجريب قبل نشر الإنتاج
3. إعادة تشغيل جميع خدمات Node.js التي تستخدم OpenClaw بعد التصحيح
4. التحقق من أن التحقق من رمز المصادقة يعمل بشكل صحيح بعد التصحيح
الضوابط التعويضية (إذا لم يكن التصحيح الفوري ممكنًا):
1. تطبيق عناصر التحكم في الوصول على مستوى الشبكة لتقييد اتصالات عملاء loopback
2. نشر قواعد WAF للكشف عن الطلبات ذات رؤوس sender-owner المعدلة وحظرها
3. تفعيل تسجيل الطلبات والمراقبة لشذوذ رمز المصادقة
4. تطبيق TLS المتبادل (mTLS) لاتصالات loopback لمنع انتحال الرؤوس
5. استخدام بوابة API للتحقق من سياق المالك بشكل مستقل عن الرؤوس المزودة من قبل العميل
قواعد الكشف:
1. مراقبة الطلبات ذات قيم رؤوس sender-owner غير متطابقة مقابل سياق المستخدم المصرح
2. التنبيه على إعادة استخدام رمز المصادقة عبر هويات العملاء المختلفة
3. تسجيل جميع محاولات العمليات المحمية للمالك والمقارنة المرجعية مع أذونات المستخدم
4. الكشف عن فشل المصادقة السريع متبوعًا بعمليات ناجحة على مستوى المالك
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
ECC 2024 A.9.2.1 - User authentication and access control
ECC 2024 A.9.4.3 - Access control to information systems
ECC 2024 A.14.2.1 - Secure development policy
ECC 2024 A.12.6.1 - Management of technical vulnerabilities
🔵 SAMA CSF
SAMA CSF ID.AM-2 - Software inventory and asset management
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 - Detection and monitoring of anomalous activity
🟡 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.14.2 - Secure development and maintenance
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
PCI DSS 2.1 - Change default passwords and security parameters
PCI DSS 6.2 - Security patches and updates
PCI DSS 7.1 - Limit access to system components by business need
PCI DSS 8.2 - User authentication and access control
🔗 References & Sources 3
🔗
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/3cb1a56bfc9579a0f2336f9cfa12a8a744332a19
disclosure@vulncheck.com
Patch
🔗
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-r6xh-pqhr-v4xh
disclosure@vulncheck.com
Mitigation
Vendor Advisory
🔗
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-owner-context-spoofing-via-bearer-token-h...
disclosure@vulncheck.com
Third Party Advisory
📦 Affected Products / CPE 1 entries
openclaw:openclaw