OpenClaw Gateway: RCE and Privilege Escalation from operator.pairing to operator.admin via device.pair.approve
## Summary device.pair.approve allowed an operator.pairing approver to approve a pending device request for broader operator scopes than the approver actually held. ## Affected Packages / Versions - Package: `openclaw` (npm) - Affected: < 2026.3.22 - Fixed: >= 2026.3.22 - Latest released tag checked: `v2026.3.23-2` (`630f1479c44f78484dfa21bb407cbe6f171dac87`) - Latest published npm version checked: `2026.3.23-2` ## Fix Commit(s) - `fc2d29ea926f47c428c556e92ec981441228d2a4` ## Release Status The fix shipped in `v2026.3.22` and remains present in `v2026.3.23` and `v2026.3.23-2`. ## Code-Level Confirmation - src/gateway/server-methods/devices.ts now threads caller scopes into device.pair.approve. - src/infra/device-pairing.ts now rejects requested operator scopes that exceed the approver-held operator scope set. OpenClaw thanks @zpbrent for reporting.
describes (1)
Related CVEs.
| ID | severity | exploitable | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2026-35639US | — | — | ||
OpenClaw before 2026.3.22 contains a privilege escalation vulnerability in the device.pair.approve method that allows an operator.pairing approver to approve pending device request… | ||||
references
External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclawPACKAGE
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/630f1479c44f78484dfa21bb407cbe6f171dac87WEB
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/fc2d29ea926f47c428c556e92ec981441228d2a4WEB
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-hf68-49fm-59cqWEB
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-35639ADVISORY
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-privilege-escalation-via-device-pair-approve-scope-validationWEB
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