CVE-2026-31991 in OpenClaw
Summary
by MITRE • 03/19/2026
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.26 contain an authorization bypass vulnerability where Signal group allowlist policy incorrectly accepts sender identities from DM pairing-store approvals. Attackers can exploit this boundary weakness by obtaining DM pairing approval to bypass group allowlist checks and gain unauthorized group access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/23/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-31991 represents a critical authorization bypass flaw within OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.26 that fundamentally undermines the security boundaries designed to protect group communications. This weakness exists in the signal group allowlist policy implementation where the system incorrectly validates sender identities obtained through direct message pairing-store approvals. The flaw creates a dangerous boundary condition where legitimate pairing approvals are improperly trusted for group membership validation, effectively allowing unauthorized access to protected group communications. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and trust boundary enforcement within the authentication flow, creating a pathway for malicious actors to escalate their privileges without proper authorization.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a specific attack vector involving DM pairing-store approvals that are then leveraged to bypass group allowlist restrictions. When a user obtains a direct message pairing approval, the system erroneously treats this approval as sufficient authentication for group access, circumventing the normal authorization checks that should validate membership against the established group allowlist. This represents a classic case of insufficient authorization checks and improper privilege management, aligning with CWE-285 which addresses improper authorization in software systems. The flaw demonstrates a breakdown in the principle of least privilege where the system fails to properly validate that the entity requesting access has the appropriate credentials and permissions for the requested resource.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security implications for organizations relying on OpenClaw for secure communications. Attackers can gain unauthorized access to sensitive group conversations, potentially leading to data breaches, information disclosure, and compromise of confidential communications. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows attackers to leverage legitimate pairing functionality for unauthorized access, making detection more difficult as the activity appears to follow normal authentication patterns. This type of attack aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and credential access, as the attacker effectively uses legitimate system functionality to gain unauthorized access to protected resources. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access to include potential disruption of communication channels and compromise of trust relationships within the system.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability include immediate deployment of OpenClaw version 2026.2.26 or later, which contains the necessary patches to correct the authorization bypass. Organizations should also implement additional monitoring for unusual pairing approval patterns and group access attempts that could indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and enhanced audit logging should be implemented to detect and respond to unauthorized access attempts. The fix addresses the root cause by properly enforcing authorization boundaries between direct message pairing and group membership validation, ensuring that pairing approvals cannot be used to bypass group allowlist policies. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation that may have occurred before the patch deployment, and consider implementing additional access controls to limit the scope of potential damage from similar vulnerabilities in other system components.