---
title: "CVE-2026-28472: OpenClaw's gateway connect could skip device identity checks when auth.token was present but not yet validated"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2026-28472/
description: "CVE-2026-28472 (openclaw (npm)): OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.2 contain a vulnerability in the gateway WebSocket connect handshake in which it allows…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2026-03-05
date_modified: 2026-03-10
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2026-28472"
kev: false
cvss: 9.2
epss: 0.00654
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

# CVE-2026-28472: OpenClaw's gateway connect could skip device identity checks when auth.token was present but not yet validated

**Signal:** Critical and remotely reachable. No known exploitation yet, but it is network-reachable without credentials. (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 0.7% , percentile 51: FIRST’s model estimates a 0.7% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 51% of all scored CVEs (moderate). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Remotely reachable with no login and no user interaction. If the vulnerable service is exposed to the internet, prioritize it.
- Only applies if your dependency tree includes openclaw (npm) < 2026.2.2, fixed in 2026.2.2 . Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.

## What it is

OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.2 contain a vulnerability in the gateway WebSocket connect handshake in which it allows skipping device identity checks when auth.token is present but not validated. Attackers can connect to the gateway without providing device identity or pairing by exploiting the presence check instead of validation, potentially gaining operator access in vulnerable deployments.

## Affected packages

- npm `openclaw` < 2026.2.2 → fixed: 2026.2.2

## Affected products (CVE record)

- OpenClaw OpenClaw: < 2026.2.2

## Severity

- VulnCheck CVSS 4.0: 9.2 `CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`
- VulnCheck CVSS 3.1: 8.1 `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`
- GitHub CVSS 4.0: 9.3 `CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`

## 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): 0.65% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 51.

## Sources

- [GitHub Security Advisory (GHSA-rv39-79c4-7459)](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-rv39-79c4-7459)
- [Patch Commit](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/fe81b1d7125a014b8280da461f34efbf5f761575)
- [GitHub Advisory GHSA-rv39-79c4-7459](https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-rv39-79c4-7459)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2026-28472](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-28472)
- [NVD entry CVE-2026-28472](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-28472)
- [VulnCheck Advisory: OpenClaw < 2026.2.2 - Device Identity Check Bypass in Gateway WebSocket Connect Handshake](https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-device-identity-check-bypass-in-gateway-websocket-connect-handshake)
- [github.com](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/releases/tag/v2026.2.2)

---
Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2026-28472/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt