CVE-2026-53838
OpenClaw < 2026.5.27 - Node Pairing State Mutation via Reconnection
OpenClaw before 2026.5.27 contains a state mutation vulnerability in node pairing reconnection that allows paired nodes to confuse approval scope decisions. Attackers can exploit reconnection logic to restore or present broader node authority than intended, potentially bypassing approval restrictions.
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
- None
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
OpenClaw < 2026.5.27 - Node Pairing State Mutation via Reconnection
OpenClaw before 2026.5.27 contains a state mutation vulnerability in node pairing reconnection that allows paired nodes to confuse approval scope decisions. Attackers can exploit reconnection logic to restore or present broader node authority than intended, potentially bypassing approval restrictions.
- Record
CVE-2026-53838- CVSS 4.0
- 6.0 Medium
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N - CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-367
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2026-36626
OpenClaw before 2026.5.27 contains a state mutation vulnerability in node pairing reconnection that allows paired nodes to confuse approval scope decisions. Attackers can exploit reconnection logic to restore or present broader node authority than intended, potentially bypassing approval restrictions.
- Record
EUVD-2026-36626- CVSS 4.0
- 6.0 Medium
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-83w9-h5wv-j9xm
OpenClaw: Node pairing reconnection could confuse approval scope state
Summary
Node pairing reconnection could confuse approval scope state. In affected versions, a paired or reconnecting node session could mutate pairing state in a way that changed the approval scope decision.
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 present broader node authority than the operator intended. 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 2026.5.27.
Mitigations
revoke unexpected node pairings and re-pair only trusted nodes 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-83w9-h5wv-j9xm- CVSS 4.0
- 6.0 Medium
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-367
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-c85p-9pvr-f7f5
Duplicate Advisory: OpenClaw: Node pairing reconnection could confuse approval scope state
Duplicate Advisory
This advisory has been withdrawn because it is a duplicate of GHSA-83w9-h5wv-j9xm. This link is maintained to preserve external references.
Original Description
OpenClaw before 2026.5.27 contains a state mutation vulnerability in node pairing reconnection that allows paired nodes to confuse approval scope decisions. Attackers can exploit reconnection logic to restore or present broader node authority than intended, potentially bypassing approval restrictions.
- Record
GHSA-c85p-9pvr-f7f5- CVSS 4.0
- 6.0 Medium
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/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
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-367
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
OpenClaw before 2026.5.27 contains a state mutation vulnerability in node pairing reconnection that allows paired nodes to confuse approval scope decisions. Attackers can exploit reconnection logic to restore or present broader node authority than intended, potentially bypassing approval restrictions.
- Record
CVE-2026-53838- CVSS 4.0
- 6.0 Medium
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/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
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-367
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
OpenClaw < 2026.5.27 - Node Pairing State Mutation via Reconnection
OpenClaw before 2026.5.27 contains a state mutation vulnerability in node pairing reconnection that allows paired nodes to confuse approval scope decisions. Attackers can exploit reconnection logic to restore or present broader node authority than intended, potentially bypassing approval restrictions.
- Record
CVE-2026-53838- CVSS 4.0
- 6.0 Medium
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-367
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-83w9-h5wv-j9xm
OpenClaw: Node pairing reconnection could confuse approval scope state
Summary
Node pairing reconnection could confuse approval scope state. In affected versions, a paired or reconnecting node session could mutate pairing state in a way that changed the approval scope decision.
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 present broader node authority than the operator intended. 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 2026.5.27.
Mitigations
revoke unexpected node pairings and re-pair only trusted nodes 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-83w9-h5wv-j9xm- CVSS 4.0
- 6.0 Medium
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-367
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-c85p-9pvr-f7f5
Duplicate Advisory: OpenClaw: Node pairing reconnection could confuse approval scope state
Duplicate Advisory
This advisory has been withdrawn because it is a duplicate of GHSA-83w9-h5wv-j9xm. This link is maintained to preserve external references.
Original Description
OpenClaw before 2026.5.27 contains a state mutation vulnerability in node pairing reconnection that allows paired nodes to confuse approval scope decisions. Attackers can exploit reconnection logic to restore or present broader node authority than intended, potentially bypassing approval restrictions.
- Record
GHSA-c85p-9pvr-f7f5- CVSS 4.0
- 6.0 Medium
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/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
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-367
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
openclawnpm |
before 2026.5.27 | 2026.5.27 |
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-2026-53838 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 6.0) in Openclaw, published June 12, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.23%, the 13th percentile. Fixed in openclaw 2026.5.27.
References
github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-83w9-h5wv-j9xm
vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-node-pairing-state-mutation-via-reconnection
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-53838