CVE-2026-27524 — openclaw
Fix: openclaw/openclaw@fbb79d4CVE-2026-27524 is a CWE-1321 vulnerability in openclaw. A fix is available for openclaw — see the affected versions and patch details below.
OpenClaw < 2026.2.21 - Prototype Pollution via Debug Override Path
Exploitation Status
No confirmed exploitation observed yet
- CISA’s own triage has not observed active exploitation or public proof-of-concept code for this CVE as of its last assessment.
Exploitation and automatability from CISA’s SSVC triage for CVE-2026-27524.
EPSS Exploitation Probability
EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) is a daily probability model maintained by FIRST.org. It estimates the likelihood a CVE will be exploited in production environments within the next 30 days, derived from real-world threat intelligence signals.
Real-World Exposure
How broadly this vulnerability is actually deployed: weekly install volume shows current usage, and reverse-dependency count shows how many other packages break if it stays unpatched.
openclawnpmDescription
Summary
OpenClaw accepted prototype-reserved keys in runtime /debug set override object values (__proto__, constructor, prototype).
Impact
/debug is disabled by default, and exploitation requires an already authorized /debug set caller. No unauthenticated vector was identified.
This issue affects runtime in-memory overrides only (non-persistent and cleared on restart/reset). Given the required prior authorization boundary, this is treated as defense-in-depth hardening for command flag evaluation.
Affected Packages / Versions
- Package:
openclaw(npm) - Latest published vulnerable version confirmed:
2026.2.19-2 - Vulnerable range:
<= 2026.2.19-2 - Patched in planned next release:
2026.2.21
Technical Details
- Runtime override merges now block reserved prototype keys during deep merge.
- Runtime override writes now sanitize nested object values to remove reserved prototype keys before storing overrides.
- Restricted command gates (
bash,config,debug) now require own-property boolean flags, preventing inherited prototype values from enabling commands.
Fix Commit(s)
fbb79d4013000552d6a2c23b9613d8b3cb92f6b6
Release Process Note
patched_versions is pre-set to 2026.2.21 so after the npm release is live, this advisory can be published immediately.
OpenClaw thanks @tdjackey for reporting.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 📦npm | openclaw | all versions | 2026.2.21npm install openclaw@2026.2.21 |
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for openclaw, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.
Fix
Update openclaw to 2026.2.21 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2026-27524 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.
How O3 protects you
O3 Security's impact-aware SCA analyses which vulnerable code paths your application actually calls, so a match like CVE-2026-27524 can be triaged on real exposure rather than presence alone.
Tailored to CVE-2026-27524. Runtime protection reduces exposure until a permanent patch is applied and verified — it complements patching, it doesn't replace it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2026-27524 in your dependencies?
O3 Security finds CVE-2026-27524 across npm dependencies, including transitive ones, and its impact-aware SCA ranks findings by whether your code actually calls the vulnerable path.