{"id":"CVE-2026-44991","aliases":["GHSA-c28g-vh7m-fm7v"],"url":"https://o3.security/vulnerability/CVE-2026-44991","summary":"OpenClaw < 2026.4.21 - Authorization Bypass in Owner-Enforced Commands via Wildcard Channel Senders","details":"## Impact\n\nOpenClaw deployments before `2026.4.21` could treat a non-owner sender as authorized for owner-enforced slash commands when all of the following were true:\n\n- a channel plugin declared `commands.enforceOwnerForCommands: true`;\n- the channel accepted wildcard inbound senders with `allowFrom: [\"*\"]`;\n- no explicit `commands.ownerAllowFrom` was configured.\n\nIn that state, `src/auto-reply/command-auth.ts` reused the channel inbound wildcard as part of the command-owner decision. A sender who was not the owner could therefore pass the owner-command gate for commands such as `/send`, `/config`, or `/debug` on the affected channel.\n\nThe issue is limited to the command-owner authorization axis. It does not by itself grant owner-only tool access, host/sandbox access, or gateway administrator scope.\n\n## Affected Packages / Versions\n\n- Package: `openclaw` on npm\n- Affected versions: `<= 2026.4.20`\n- Patched version: `2026.4.21`\n\nThe latest public release, `2026.4.21`, contains the fix.\n\n## Patches\n\nThe fix requires a concrete owner identity or internal operator-admin scope when a plugin enforces owner-only commands. Wildcard channel `allowFrom` no longer implies wildcard command ownership.\n\nFix commits:\n\n- `2aa93d44a1b2c7058c371f261fda2b5d4de4a882` on `main`\n- `995febb7b1e811ff6a1df5b18c22de94103f4c9f` in the `2026.4.21` release line\n\n## Workarounds\n\nUpgrade to `openclaw@2026.4.21` or later. Before upgrading, avoid wildcard/open-DM sender policy on owner-enforced channels, or configure `commands.ownerAllowFrom` to the intended owner identities.\n\n## Credits\n\nOpenClaw thanks @zsxsoft for reporting.","published":"2026-05-11T16:46:31.670Z","modified":"2026-08-12T03:51:37.060248199Z","cvss":null,"epss":{"score":0.00237,"percentile":0.14887,"asOf":"2026-08-14"},"cisaKev":null,"exploitsKnown":0,"affectedPackages":[{"ecosystem":"npm","name":"openclaw","fixedVersion":"2026.4.21"}],"fix":{"url":"https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/2aa93d44a1b2c7058c371f261fda2b5d4de4a882","label":"openclaw/openclaw@2aa93d4"},"references":[{"type":"ADVISORY","url":"https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2026/44xxx/CVE-2026-44991.json"},{"type":"ADVISORY","url":"https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-c28g-vh7m-fm7v"},{"type":"ADVISORY","url":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-44991"},{"type":"ADVISORY","url":"https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-authorization-bypass-in-owner-enforced-commands-via-wildcard-channel-senders"},{"type":"FIX","url":"https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/2aa93d44a1b2c7058c371f261fda2b5d4de4a882"},{"type":"FIX","url":"https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/995febb7b1e811ff6a1df5b18c22de94103f4c9f"},{"type":"PACKAGE","url":"https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw"}],"provenance":{"sources":["OSV.dev","FIRST.org (EPSS)"],"lastVerified":"2026-08-12T03:51:37.060248199Z"}}