Summary
Bootstrap setup codes were not bound to the intended device role and scopes, allowing first-use privilege escalation during pairing.
Current Maintainer Triage
- Status: open
- Normalized severity: high
- Assessment: Real first-use bootstrap privilege-escalation bug fixed and shipped in v2026.3.22+, so keep open for publication with current severity.
Affected Packages / Versions
- Package:
openclaw(npm) - Latest published npm version:
2026.3.31 - Vulnerable version range:
<=2026.3.13-1 - Patched versions:
>= 2026.3.22 - First stable tag containing the fix:
v2026.3.22
Fix Commit(s)
a600c72ed7d0045a27f58bf031d2b36ecb0141c9, 2026-03-22T23:57:15-07:00
OpenClaw thanks @tdjackey for reporting.
Impact
The application assigns, modifies, tracks, or checks privileges incorrectly, allowing a user to gain elevated access. Typical impact: privilege escalation beyond the intended level.
CVE-2026-41386 has a CVSS score of 9.8 (High). The vector is network-reachable, no privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. A fixed version is available (2026.3.22); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.
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.
Remediation advice
Kodem Kai can prioritize this vulnerability in your dependency tree and generate a fix recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2026-41386? CVE-2026-41386 is a high-severity improper privilege management vulnerability in openclaw (npm), affecting versions <= 2026.3.13-1. It is fixed in 2026.3.22. The application assigns, modifies, tracks, or checks privileges incorrectly, allowing a user to gain elevated access.
- How severe is CVE-2026-41386? CVE-2026-41386 has a CVSS score of 9.8 (High). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
- Which versions of openclaw are affected by CVE-2026-41386? openclaw (npm) versions <= 2026.3.13-1 is affected.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2026-41386? Yes. CVE-2026-41386 is fixed in 2026.3.22. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2026-41386 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2026-41386 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-2026-41386 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-2026-41386? Upgrade
openclawto 2026.3.22 or later.