---
title: "CVE-2026-22172: OpenClaw: WebSocket shared-auth connections could self-declare elevated scopes"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2026-22172/
description: "CVE-2026-22172 (openclaw (npm)): OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.3.12 contain an authorization bypass vulnerability in the WebSocket connect path that…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2026-03-20
date_modified: 2026-09-24
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2026-22172"
kev: false
cvss: 9.4
epss: 0.00571
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

# CVE-2026-22172: OpenClaw: WebSocket shared-auth connections could self-declare elevated scopes

**Signal:** Critical, preconditions apply. Severe if exploited, but exploitation needs conditions that may not apply to you. (Computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS; not an editorial verdict.)

## Should you act?

- No confirmed exploitation. It is not in CISA’s KEV catalog and CISA’s SSVC assessment records no known exploitation. That can change quickly after a public write-up; re-check if you are affected.
- EPSS 0.6% , percentile 46: FIRST’s model estimates a 0.6% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 46% of all scored CVEs (low). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Needs an account (low (any account)). Exposure depends on who can log in.
- Only applies if your dependency tree includes openclaw (npm) <= 2026.3.11, fixed in 2026.3.12 . Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.

## What it is

OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.3.12 contain an authorization bypass vulnerability in the WebSocket connect path that allows shared-token or password-authenticated connections to self-declare elevated scopes without server-side binding. Attackers can exploit this logic flaw to present unauthorized scopes such as operator.admin and perform admin-only gateway operations.

## Affected packages

- npm `openclaw` <= 2026.3.11 → fixed: 2026.3.12

## Affected products (CVE record)

- OpenClaw OpenClaw: < 2026.3.12

## Severity

- VulnCheck CVSS 4.0: 9.4 `CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H`
- VulnCheck CVSS 3.1: 9.9 `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`
- GitHub CVSS 3.1: 9.9 `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`

## Exploitation

- CISA KEV: not listed (no confirmed in-the-wild exploitation known to CISA).
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation none , automatable no , technical impact total .
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 0.57% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 46.

## Sources

- [GitHub Security Advisory (GHSA-rqpp-rjj8-7wv8)](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-rqpp-rjj8-7wv8)
- [GitHub Advisory GHSA-rqpp-rjj8-7wv8](https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-rqpp-rjj8-7wv8)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2026-22172](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-22172)
- [NVD entry CVE-2026-22172](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-22172)
- [vulncheck.com](https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-scope-elevation-in-websocket-shared-auth-connections)
- [github.com](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/pull/44306)
- [github.com](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/5e389d5e7c9233ec91026ab2fea299ebaf3249f6)
- [github.com](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/releases/tag/v2026.3.12)

---
Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2026-22172/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt