Summary
OpenClaw hook ingress can start automated agent runs using a configured hook token. In affected releases, a hook-triggered run could select a bundled CLI backend that received owner-scoped MCP loopback authority instead of a scope appropriate for hook ingress.
This issue affects the boundary between hook-token automation and owner-only MCP tools. It does not affect deployments with hooks disabled.
Affected configurations
This affects deployments where hooks are enabled, /hooks/agent is reachable with a valid hook token, and a bundled CLI backend can be selected for the hook-triggered run.
Patched Versions
The first stable patched version is 2026.5.20.
Fixed in the 2026.5.20 stable release.
Mitigations
Upgrade to [email protected] or later. Keep hook tokens secret, restrict network access to hook endpoints, and disable hooks when they are not needed.
Impact
A caller with the hook token could cause the spawned CLI runtime to see or call MCP tools that should have been owner-only. The practical impact depends on which MCP tools are available; the reported proof used persistent cron state as a representative owner-only action.
CVE-2026-53814 has a CVSS score of 8.4 (High). 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 (2026.5.20); 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-2026-53814? CVE-2026-53814 is a high-severity security vulnerability in openclaw (npm), affecting versions < 2026.5.20. It is fixed in 2026.5.20.
- How severe is CVE-2026-53814? CVE-2026-53814 has a CVSS score of 8.4 (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-2026-53814? openclaw (npm) versions < 2026.5.20 is affected.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2026-53814? Yes. CVE-2026-53814 is fixed in 2026.5.20. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2026-53814 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2026-53814 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-2026-53814 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-2026-53814? Upgrade
openclawto 2026.5.20 or later.