CVE-2026-62198 in OpenClaw
Summary
by MITRE • 07/14/2026
OpenClaw versions 2026.5.28 before 2026.6.6 contain an authorization bypass vulnerability in native web search that allows lower-trust callers to perform actions requiring stronger policy checks. Attackers can exploit misconfigured input paths to bypass intended authorization controls and execute restricted operations.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2026
The OpenClaw software suite version 2026.5.28 through 2026.6.5 contains a critical authorization bypass vulnerability that fundamentally undermines the security controls designed to protect sensitive operations within the native web search functionality. This vulnerability resides in the authorization mechanism that governs access to privileged system resources and operations, creating a pathway for unauthorized entities to escalate their privileges and execute restricted tasks without proper authentication or policy validation.
The technical flaw manifests through misconfigured input paths that fail to properly validate the trust level of calling entities before permitting access to sensitive functions. When legitimate search operations are processed, the system should verify that incoming requests originate from authorized sources with appropriate clearance levels. However, due to insufficient authorization checks in the web search component, lower-trust callers can manipulate the input validation process to bypass these security controls and gain access to operations that should only be available to higher-privileged users or systems.
This authorization bypass vulnerability has significant operational impact across multiple attack vectors and threat scenarios. The flaw enables attackers to perform restricted operations such as modifying system configurations, accessing confidential data, executing administrative commands, or manipulating core system functions without proper authorization. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where OpenClaw serves as a central component in enterprise search infrastructure, as it allows unauthorized access to potentially sensitive information and system controls.
The security implications extend beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass broader system compromise potential. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can leverage the bypassed authorization controls to perform lateral movement within network environments, establish persistent access points, or conduct more sophisticated attacks that require elevated privileges. This represents a fundamental failure in the principle of least privilege enforcement and undermines the overall security posture of systems running affected OpenClaw versions.
The mitigation strategy should focus on implementing proper input validation and authorization checking mechanisms throughout the web search component. Security teams must ensure that all incoming requests undergo rigorous authentication and authorization verification before any privileged operations are permitted. This includes implementing robust access control lists, enforcing strict trust level verification, and establishing proper logging and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and represents a clear violation of the ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting through application vulnerabilities.
Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided patch or update to version 2026.6.6 or later, which addresses the authorization bypass issue by implementing proper input path validation and strengthening the authorization controls within the native web search functionality. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and regular security assessments should verify that similar authorization gaps do not exist in other system components. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining proper authorization boundaries and validating all input sources to prevent unauthorized access to privileged system functions.