CVE-2026-62196 in OpenClaw
Summary
by MITRE • 07/14/2026
OpenClaw versions 2026.3.22 before 2026.6.6 contain an authorization bypass vulnerability where WhatsApp group IDs can satisfy elevated sender allowlists. Attackers with lower-trust access can perform actions requiring stronger authorization by leveraging group ID validation in the affected feature.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2026
The OpenClaw software ecosystem presents a critical authorization bypass vulnerability affecting versions prior to 2026.6.6, specifically within its WhatsApp integration capabilities. This flaw resides in the permission validation mechanism that governs sender access controls and group membership verification. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of group identifiers within the authorization framework, allowing malicious actors with limited trust levels to exploit the system by leveraging legitimate WhatsApp group IDs as unauthorized access tokens.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through a flawed access control check that accepts group IDs from lower-privilege accounts as valid credentials for elevated operations. When the system validates sender permissions, it incorrectly treats certain WhatsApp group identifiers as equivalent to higher-privilege authorization tokens, bypassing normal authentication procedures. This occurs because the validation logic does not adequately distinguish between different types of group memberships or enforce proper privilege escalation controls. The flaw represents a classic authorization bypass scenario where the system's trust model is compromised through insufficient input validation and privilege verification.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, potentially enabling attackers to execute privileged operations within the OpenClaw environment. An attacker with access to a WhatsApp group could leverage this weakness to perform actions typically restricted to administrators or high-privilege users. This includes but is not limited to modifying system configurations, accessing sensitive data, creating new user accounts, or executing administrative commands. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations relying on WhatsApp group-based workflows for communication and collaboration within their OpenClaw deployments.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including updating to version 2026.6.6 or later, which contains the necessary authorization enforcement patches. Organizations must also review existing access control policies and ensure proper segregation of duties within their WhatsApp group management systems. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in group-based access requests, while audit logging should be strengthened to track all authorization bypass attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and privilege escalation. Additional defensive measures include implementing multi-factor authentication for sensitive operations and establishing stricter group membership validation protocols that differentiate between various types of group access tokens.