CVE-2026-53852
OpenClaw < 2026.4.25 - Scope Bypass via Empty-Scope Device Re-pairing
OpenClaw before 2026.4.25 contains a scope containment bypass vulnerability in device re-pairing that allows authenticated operators to restore broader scopes than intended by submitting empty-scope re-pairing requests. Attackers can exploit this by sending re-pairing requests with empty scope sets to skip containment guards and retain unauthorized device access.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- Low
- Integrity
- Low
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
OpenClaw < 2026.4.25 - Scope Bypass via Empty-Scope Device Re-pairing
OpenClaw before 2026.4.25 contains a scope containment bypass vulnerability in device re-pairing that allows authenticated operators to restore broader scopes than intended by submitting empty-scope re-pairing requests. Attackers can exploit this by sending re-pairing requests with empty scope sets to skip containment guards and retain unauthorized device access.
- Record
CVE-2026-53852- CVSS 4.0
- 2.3 Low
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - CVSS 3.1
- 5.4 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-636
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2026-37154
OpenClaw before 2026.4.25 contains a scope containment bypass vulnerability in device re-pairing that allows authenticated operators to restore broader scopes than intended by submitting empty-scope re-pairing requests. Attackers can exploit this by sending re-pairing requests with empty scope sets to skip containment guards and retain unauthorized device access.
- Record
EUVD-2026-37154- CVSS 4.0
- 2.3 Low
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-8mg9-j9cf-54cj
OpenClaw: Empty-scope device re-pairing could confuse caller scope containment
Summary
Empty-scope device re-pairing could confuse caller scope containment. In affected versions, a device re-pairing request with an empty scope set could skip the intended containment guard during re-pairing.
This advisory is scoped to the named feature and configuration. It does not change OpenClaw's trusted-operator model: authenticated Gateway operators, installed plugins, and intentional local execution surfaces remain trusted unless a separate policy, approval, allowlist, sandbox, or auth boundary is crossed.
Impact
When the affected feature is enabled and reachable, this could restore or retain scopes broader than the caller should grant. Practical impact depends on the operator's configuration and whether lower-trust input can reach that path.
Patched Versions
The first stable patched version is 2026.4.25.
Mitigations
revoke unexpected device sessions and require fresh pairing for suspicious devices until patched. As general hardening, keep channel and tool allowlists narrow, avoid sharing one Gateway between mutually untrusted users, and disable the affected feature when it is not needed.
- Record
GHSA-8mg9-j9cf-54cj- CVSS 4.0
- 2.3 Low
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - CVSS 3.1
- 5.4 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-636
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-hc4w-hm59-9w88
Duplicate Advisory: Empty-scope device re-pairing could confuse caller scope containment
Duplicate Advisory
This advisory has been withdrawn because it is a duplicate of GHSA-8mg9-j9cf-54cj. This link is maintained to preserve external references.
Original Description
OpenClaw before 2026.4.25 contains a scope containment bypass vulnerability in device re-pairing that allows authenticated operators to restore broader scopes than intended by submitting empty-scope re-pairing requests. Attackers can exploit this by sending re-pairing requests with empty scope sets to skip containment guards and retain unauthorized device access.
- Record
GHSA-hc4w-hm59-9w88- CVSS 4.0
- 2.3 Low
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - CVSS 3.1
- 5.4 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-636
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
OpenClaw before 2026.4.25 contains a scope containment bypass vulnerability in device re-pairing that allows authenticated operators to restore broader scopes than intended by submitting empty-scope re-pairing requests. Attackers can exploit this by sending re-pairing requests with empty scope sets to skip containment guards and retain unauthorized device access.
- Record
CVE-2026-53852- CVSS 4.0
- 2.3 Low
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X - CVSS 3.1
- 5.4 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-636
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
OpenClaw < 2026.4.25 - Scope Bypass via Empty-Scope Device Re-pairing
OpenClaw before 2026.4.25 contains a scope containment bypass vulnerability in device re-pairing that allows authenticated operators to restore broader scopes than intended by submitting empty-scope re-pairing requests. Attackers can exploit this by sending re-pairing requests with empty scope sets to skip containment guards and retain unauthorized device access.
- Record
CVE-2026-53852- CVSS 4.0
- 2.3 Low
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-636
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-8mg9-j9cf-54cj
OpenClaw: Empty-scope device re-pairing could confuse caller scope containment
Summary
Empty-scope device re-pairing could confuse caller scope containment. In affected versions, a device re-pairing request with an empty scope set could skip the intended containment guard during re-pairing.
This advisory is scoped to the named feature and configuration. It does not change OpenClaw's trusted-operator model: authenticated Gateway operators, installed plugins, and intentional local execution surfaces remain trusted unless a separate policy, approval, allowlist, sandbox, or auth boundary is crossed.
Impact
When the affected feature is enabled and reachable, this could restore or retain scopes broader than the caller should grant. Practical impact depends on the operator's configuration and whether lower-trust input can reach that path.
Patched Versions
The first stable patched version is 2026.4.25.
Mitigations
revoke unexpected device sessions and require fresh pairing for suspicious devices until patched. As general hardening, keep channel and tool allowlists narrow, avoid sharing one Gateway between mutually untrusted users, and disable the affected feature when it is not needed.
- Record
GHSA-8mg9-j9cf-54cj- CVSS 4.0
- 2.3 Low
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - CVSS 3.1
- 5.4 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-636
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-hc4w-hm59-9w88
Duplicate Advisory: Empty-scope device re-pairing could confuse caller scope containment
Duplicate Advisory
This advisory has been withdrawn because it is a duplicate of GHSA-8mg9-j9cf-54cj. This link is maintained to preserve external references.
Original Description
OpenClaw before 2026.4.25 contains a scope containment bypass vulnerability in device re-pairing that allows authenticated operators to restore broader scopes than intended by submitting empty-scope re-pairing requests. Attackers can exploit this by sending re-pairing requests with empty scope sets to skip containment guards and retain unauthorized device access.
- Record
GHSA-hc4w-hm59-9w88- CVSS 4.0
- 2.3 Low
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - CVSS 3.1
- 5.4 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-636
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| affected | ||
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2026-53852 is a low vulnerability (CVSS 2.3) in Openclaw, published June 16, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.21%, the 10th percentile. Fixed in openclaw 2026.4.25.
References
github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-8mg9-j9cf-54cj
vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-scope-bypass-via-empty-scope-device-re-pairing
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-53852