Summary
OpenClaw: Nostr inbound DMs could trigger unauthenticated crypto work before sender policy enforcement
Nostr inbound DM handling could perform crypto and dispatch work before sender and pairing policy enforcement, enabling unauthorized pre-auth computation.
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)
1ee9611079e81b9122f4bed01abb3d9f56206c77
Release Status
The fix shipped in v2026.3.22 and remains present in v2026.3.23 and v2026.3.23-2.
Code-Level Confirmation
- extensions/nostr/src/channel.ts now performs authorization before decrypting and dispatching inbound DM content.
- extensions/nostr/src/nostr-bus.ts adds pre-crypto authorization, size, and rate guardrails before expensive decrypt work.
OpenClaw thanks @kuranikaran for reporting.
Impact
The application does not correctly enforce access controls, allowing a principal to access resources or operations beyond their granted permissions. Typical impact: unauthorized data access or execution of privileged operations.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
Already deployed Kodem?
See it in your environmentNew to Kodem? Get a demo →Remediation advice
Kodem Kai can prioritize this vulnerability in your dependency tree and generate a fix recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2026-35627? CVE-2026-35627 is a high-severity incorrect authorization vulnerability in openclaw (npm), affecting versions < 2026.3.22. It is fixed in 2026.3.22. The application does not correctly enforce access controls, allowing a principal to access resources or operations beyond their granted permissions.
- Which versions of openclaw are affected by CVE-2026-35627? openclaw (npm) versions < 2026.3.22 is affected.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2026-35627? Yes. CVE-2026-35627 is fixed in 2026.3.22. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2026-35627 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2026-35627 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether CVE-2026-35627 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
- How do I fix CVE-2026-35627? Upgrade
openclawto 2026.3.22 or later.