CVE-2026-53808
mediumpriority · track · 0OT risk · elevatedEPSS 0.003 · 27 %ileDEEUUSEPSS · scored 2026-10-24
OpenClaw before 2026.5.6 contains an approval policy bypass vulnerability in the Skill Workshop apply flow that allows agent tool calls to set apply: true despite approvalPolicy: pending configuration. Attackers can exploit this by reaching the affected apply path to apply workshop changes before the expected approval step, potentially modifying configurations without proper authorization.
cvss
Technical severity, 0–10. One row per scoring source.
base score 0–10 · higher = more severe · hover a vector to decode⚠ sources disagree · low–medium · 2.3–6.5
ssvc
A stakeholder decision — act, attend, or track — from exploitation and impact.
weaknesses
The CWE weakness classes this flaw belongs to.
affected products (4)
Products and version ranges known to be affected.
advisories (2)
Vendor and ecosystem advisories describing this.
- WID-SEC-W-2026-1738OpenClaw: Mehrere SchwachstellenDeutsch2026-05-28csaf · cert_bundDE
Ein entfernter, authentisierter Angreifer kann mehrere Schwachstellen in OpenClaw ausnutzen, um Sicherheitsmechanismen zu umgehen, erhöhte Berechtigungen zu erlangen, Informationen offenzulegen, Konfigurationen zu manipulieren, beliebige Befehle oder Code auszuführen sowie interne Systeme über SSRF anzugreifen.
- GHSA-cqwv-9qjx-vxw2OpenClaw: Skill Workshop apply flow could override pending approval2026-07-02ghsa · osvUS
### Summary Skill Workshop apply flow could override pending approval. In affected versions, an agent tool call reaching the affected Skill Workshop apply path could set `apply: true` despite `approvalPolicy: pending`. This advisory is scoped to the named feature and configuration. It does not change OpenClaw's trusted-operator model: authenticated Gateway operators, installed plugins, and intentional local execution surfaces remain trusted unless a separate policy, approval, allowlist, sandbox, or auth boundary is crossed. ### Impact When the affected feature is enabled and reachable, this could apply a workshop change before the expected approval step. Practical impact depends on the operator's configuration and whether lower-trust input can reach that path. ### Patched Versions The first stable patched version is `2026.5.6`. ### Mitigations review Skill Workshop changes manually and keep the tool restricted until patched. As general hardening, keep channel and tool allowlists narrow, avoid sharing one Gateway between mutually untrusted users, and disable the affected feature when it is not needed.
also known as (3)
Other names and identifiers for this entity.
sources
Which sources assert this record, and when.
references (6)
External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/releasesPatchcnnvd
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-53808cnnvd
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-cqwv-9qjx-vxw2enisa_euvd
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-approval-policy-bypass-in-skill-workshop-apply-flowenisa_euvd
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-cqwv-9qjx-vxw2MitigationVendor Advisorynvd
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-approval-policy-bypass-in-skill-workshop-apply-flowThird Party Advisorynvd
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