Summary
OpenClaw: Gateway Canvas local-direct requests bypass Canvas HTTP and WebSocket authentication
Before v2026.3.23, Canvas and A2UI loopback requests could bypass Canvas bearer-or-capability authentication because authorizeCanvasRequest(...) treated isLocalDirectRequest(...) as an unconditional allow path.
Affected Packages / Versions
- Package:
openclaw(npm) - Affected:
< 2026.3.23 - Fixed:
>= 2026.3.23 - Latest released tag checked:
v2026.3.23-2(630f1479c44f78484dfa21bb407cbe6f171dac87) - Latest published npm version checked:
2026.3.23-2
Root Cause
The vulnerable logic lived in src/gateway/server/http-auth.ts. authorizeCanvasRequest(...) returned { ok: true } for local-direct requests before checking bearer authentication or an active node canvas capability, which meant unauthenticated loopback Canvas HTTP and WebSocket requests could succeed.
Fix Commit(s)
d5dc6b6573ae489bc7e5651090f4767b93537c9e,fix(gateway): require auth for canvas routes
Release Status
The fix commit is contained in released tags v2026.3.23 and v2026.3.23-2. The latest shipped tag and npm release both include the fix.
Code-Level Confirmation
src/gateway/server/http-auth.tsno longer contains the local-direct early return inauthorizeCanvasRequest(...).src/gateway/server.canvas-auth.test.tsadds the regression testdenies canvas HTTP/WS on loopback without bearer or capability by default.
Thanks @smaeljaish771 for reporting.
Impact
The application does not adequately verify the identity of a user, device, or process before granting access. Typical impact: unauthorized access to functions or data reserved for authenticated parties.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2026-35634? CVE-2026-35634 is a medium-severity improper authentication vulnerability in openclaw (npm), affecting versions < 2026.3.23. It is fixed in 2026.3.23. The application does not adequately verify the identity of a user, device, or process before granting access.
- Which versions of openclaw are affected by CVE-2026-35634? openclaw (npm) versions < 2026.3.23 is affected.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2026-35634? Yes. CVE-2026-35634 is fixed in 2026.3.23. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2026-35634 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2026-35634 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-2026-35634 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-2026-35634? Upgrade
openclawto 2026.3.23 or later.