---
title: "CVE-2026-32916: OpenClaw: Plugin subagent routes could bypass gateway authorization with synthetic admin scopes"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2026-32916/
description: "CVE-2026-32916 (openclaw (npm)): OpenClaw versions 2026.3.7 before 2026.3.11 contain an authorization bypass vulnerability where plugin subagent routes…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2026-03-31
date_modified: 2026-06-23
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2026-32916"
kev: false
cvss: 9.2
epss: 0.00633
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

# CVE-2026-32916: OpenClaw: Plugin subagent routes could bypass gateway authorization with synthetic admin scopes

**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 0.6% , percentile 50: FIRST’s model estimates a 0.6% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 50% of all scored CVEs (low). 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) >= 2026.3.7, < 2026.3.11, fixed in 2026.3.11 . Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.

## What it is

OpenClaw versions 2026.3.7 before 2026.3.11 contain an authorization bypass vulnerability where plugin subagent routes execute gateway methods through a synthetic operator client with broad administrative scopes. Remote unauthenticated requests to plugin-owned routes can invoke runtime.subagent methods to perform privileged gateway actions including session deletion and agent execution.

## Affected packages

- npm `openclaw` >= 2026.3.7, < 2026.3.11 → fixed: 2026.3.11

## Affected products (CVE record)

- OpenClaw OpenClaw: 2026.3.7 < 2026.3.11

## Severity

- VulnCheck CVSS 4.0: 9.2 `CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`
- VulnCheck CVSS 3.1: 9.4 `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L`
- GitHub CVSS 3.1: 9.4 `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L`

## 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): 0.63% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 50.

## Sources

- [GitHub Security Advisory (GHSA-xw77-45gv-p728)](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-xw77-45gv-p728)
- [GitHub Advisory GHSA-xw77-45gv-p728](https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-xw77-45gv-p728)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2026-32916](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-32916)
- [NVD entry CVE-2026-32916](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-32916)
- [VulnCheck Advisory: OpenClaw 2026.3.7 < 2026.3.11 - Authorization Bypass in Plugin Subagent Routes via Synthetic Admin Scopes](https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-authorization-bypass-in-plugin-subagent-routes-via-synthetic-admin-scopes)
- [github.com](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/releases/tag/v2026.3.11)

---
Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2026-32916/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt