Summary
OpenClaw: Gateway plugin HTTP auth: gateway widens identity-bearing operator.read requests into runtime operator.write
Affected Packages / Versions
- Package:
openclaw(npm) - Affected versions:
2026.1.29 - Patched versions:
2026.4.8
Verification
The fix was re-checked against main before publication, including targeted regression tests for the affected security boundary.
Credits
Thanks @smaeljaish771 for reporting.
Impact
Gateway plugin HTTP auth: gateway widens identity-bearing operator.read requests into runtime operator.write.
Plugin HTTP routes using gateway auth could receive runtime write scopes even when the upstream trusted-proxy request only declared read.
OpenClaw is a user-controlled local assistant. This advisory is scoped to the OpenClaw trust model and does not assume a multi-tenant service boundary.
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-2026-42429 has a CVSS score of 7.1 (Low). The vector is network-reachable, low 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 (2026.4.8); 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.
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The issue was fixed on main and is available in the patched npm version listed above. The verified fixed tree is commit d7c3210cd6f5fdfdc1beff4c9541673e814354d5.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2026-42429? CVE-2026-42429 is a low-severity improper privilege management vulnerability in openclaw (npm), affecting versions < 2026.4.8. It is fixed in 2026.4.8. The application assigns, modifies, tracks, or checks privileges incorrectly, allowing a user to gain elevated access.
- How severe is CVE-2026-42429? CVE-2026-42429 has a CVSS score of 7.1 (Low). 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-2026-42429? openclaw (npm) versions < 2026.4.8 is affected.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2026-42429? Yes. CVE-2026-42429 is fixed in 2026.4.8. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2026-42429 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2026-42429 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-2026-42429 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-2026-42429? Upgrade
openclawto 2026.4.8 or later.