CVE-2026-100568 in OpenClaw
Summary
by MITRE • 09/26/2026
OpenClaw versions before 2026.8.1 fail to properly restrict access to operator command cron jobs, allowing model-visible agent callers to read and execute ownerless command jobs. Attackers can inspect stored environment variables and force-run disabled or unscheduled command jobs to access secrets and execute operator-authored commands.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2026
The vulnerability identified in OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.8.1 represents a critical failure in access control mechanisms within the system's cron job management subsystem. Specifically, the application fails to enforce proper authorization checks when handling operator command cron jobs. This architectural flaw allows model-visible agent callers, which are typically intended for limited operational tasks, to bypass security boundaries and interact with administrative-level scheduling functions. The core technical issue lies in the absence of strict role-based access control or permission validation during the retrieval and execution phases of these specific job types. Consequently, any entity authenticated as a model-visible agent can query the system's internal state regarding scheduled commands without being restricted by their intended privilege level.
This lack of restriction leads to two distinct but related security impacts: information disclosure and unauthorized code execution. First, attackers leveraging this flaw can inspect stored environment variables associated with these cron jobs. These variables often contain sensitive configuration data, API keys, database credentials, or other secrets necessary for the operation of backend services. By reading these values, an attacker gains deep insight into the system's infrastructure and security posture, which facilitates further lateral movement or targeted attacks against dependent systems. Second, the vulnerability allows attackers to force-run disabled or unscheduled command jobs. This capability effectively neutralizes operational safeguards such as maintenance windows or emergency stop mechanisms, allowing malicious actors to execute arbitrary commands authored by operators at any time, regardless of their scheduled status or administrative disablement flags.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-269 Improper Privilege Management and CWE-732 Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource. The failure to restrict access to operator-level functions constitutes a privilege escalation scenario where lower-privileged entities gain high-privilege capabilities. In the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this behavior maps directly to T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables the execution of system commands through manipulated cron job triggers. Additionally, the ability to read environment variables corresponds to T1082 System Information Discovery, providing attackers with valuable intelligence for subsequent exploitation phases. The operational impact is severe, potentially leading to full system compromise if the executed commands allow for further payload delivery or configuration changes that weaken overall security controls.
Mitigation strategies must focus on immediate patching and rigorous access control enforcement. Organizations running OpenClaw should upgrade to version 2026.8.1 or later immediately to resolve this issue, as it contains the necessary code fixes to enforce proper authorization checks for operator command cron jobs. In environments where upgrading is not instantly feasible, administrators should implement network-level segmentation to restrict access to the affected services from untrusted agent networks. Furthermore, auditing existing cron job configurations to ensure that sensitive environment variables are stored in secure vaults rather than accessible via standard job metadata can reduce the blast radius of this vulnerability. Regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on privilege escalation paths within scheduling subsystems are recommended to identify similar misconfigurations before they can be exploited by adversaries seeking unauthorized access or execution capabilities.