CVE-2026-32042 in OpenClaw
Summary
by MITRE • 03/21/2026
OpenClaw versions 2026.2.22 prior to 2026.2.25 contain a privilege escalation vulnerability allowing unpaired device identities to bypass operator pairing requirements and self-assign elevated operator scopes including operator.admin. Attackers with valid shared gateway authentication can present a self-signed unpaired device identity to request and obtain higher operator scopes before pairing approval is granted.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-32042 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within OpenClaw software versions ranging from 2026.2.22 through 2026.2.24. This security weakness specifically targets the device pairing and authorization mechanisms that are fundamental to maintaining operational integrity in industrial control systems. The flaw allows malicious actors to circumvent established security protocols by exploiting a gap in the authentication workflow that occurs before device pairing approval is finalized. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental failure in the principle of least privilege enforcement, where system access controls do not properly validate device identity status before granting elevated operational permissions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of device pairing status within the operator scope assignment process. When an attacker successfully authenticates to a shared gateway using valid credentials, they can leverage the system's trust model to present a self-signed certificate for an unpaired device. This particular attack vector exploits the temporal window between device authentication and formal pairing approval, allowing for unauthorized privilege escalation. The system's failure to properly verify that a device has undergone proper pairing procedures before granting administrative privileges creates a persistent security gap that can be exploited repeatedly. The vulnerability specifically enables the assignment of operator.admin scope, which represents the highest level of operational control within the system architecture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential system compromise and unauthorized control of critical infrastructure components. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain administrative access to the OpenClaw system before proper device validation occurs, potentially enabling them to manipulate system configurations, access sensitive operational data, or disrupt normal operations. The attack requires only valid shared gateway authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous as it can be executed by insiders or external attackers who have obtained legitimate access to the system. This vulnerability undermines the core security model of the system by allowing unauthorized elevation of privileges without proper authorization approval processes.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing strict validation of device pairing status before granting elevated privileges. Organizations should immediately update to OpenClaw version 2026.2.25 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this privilege escalation vulnerability. Additional protective measures include implementing network segmentation to limit access to shared gateways, enforcing multi-factor authentication for gateway access, and establishing monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized privilege escalation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control, and represents a specific implementation weakness in the authorization framework that could be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1068 for locally executed commands and T1548 for abuse of privileges. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments to identify any potential exploitation of this vulnerability and implement continuous monitoring to detect anomalous privilege assignment patterns.