OpenClaw: /api/channels gateway-auth boundary bypass via path canonicalization mismatch
### Summary Gateway auth for plugin channel endpoints can be bypassed when path canonicalization differs between the gateway guard and plugin handler routing. ### Details On affected versions, `server-http` only applies gateway auth when raw `requestPath` matches exactly: - `/api/channels` - `/api/channels/*` If a plugin handler canonicalizes path input (for example `decodeURIComponent(pathname).toLowerCase()`), requests like: - `/API/channels/nostr/default/profile` - `/api/channels%2Fnostr%2Fdefault%2Fprofile` can be interpreted as `/api/channels/*` by the plugin, while the gateway auth guard is skipped. ### Impact Authentication boundary bypass for plugin channel HTTP routes under canonicalization mismatch conditions. Unauthorized callers may access plugin channel APIs that are expected to require gateway auth. CWE: CWE-288 (Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel) CVSS: `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N` (Base 5.3, Moderate)
describes (1)
Related CVEs.
| ID | severity | exploitable | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2026-32031US | medium6.5OT elevated | — | ||
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.26 server-http contains an authentication bypass vulnerability in gateway authentication for plugin channel endpoints due to path canonicalization… | ||||
references
External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclawPACKAGE
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-8j2w-6fmm-m587WEB
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-32031ADVISORY
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-authentication-bypass-via-path-canonicalization-mismatch-in-api-channels-gatewayWEB
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