Summary
OpenClaw bootstrap setup codes could be replayed to escalate pending pairing scopes before approval
openclaw versions <= 2026.3.12 allowed bootstrap setup codes to be replayed before approval, which could widen the scopes on a pending device pairing request.
Affected Packages / Versions
- Package:
openclaw(npm) - Affected versions:
<= 2026.3.12 - Fixed version:
2026.3.13
Details
The vulnerable path was bootstrap token verification in src/infra/device-bootstrap.ts. In affected releases, a valid bootstrap setup code could be verified more than once before the pairing request was approved. That allowed a second verification attempt to mutate a pending device pairing and request broader scopes, including escalation from a lower operator scope to operator.admin, before an approver finalized the pairing.
This issue is in scope under OpenClaw's trust model because bootstrap setup codes are an authentication primitive for device pairing and the replay changed the privileges granted to the pending device.
Fix Commit(s)
1803d16d5cec970c54b0e1ac46b31b1cbade335c
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.
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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[email protected] makes bootstrap setup codes single-use. Current code consumes the bootstrap token record on the first successful verification, so replay attempts fail before pending scopes can be widened.
Regression coverage exists in src/infra/device-pairing.test.ts (rejects bootstrap token replay before pending scope escalation can be approved).
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is GHSA-63F5-HHC7-CX6P? GHSA-63F5-HHC7-CX6P is a high-severity improper privilege management vulnerability in openclaw (npm), affecting versions <= 2026.3.12. It is fixed in 2026.3.13. The application assigns, modifies, tracks, or checks privileges incorrectly, allowing a user to gain elevated access.
- Which versions of openclaw are affected by GHSA-63F5-HHC7-CX6P? openclaw (npm) versions <= 2026.3.12 is affected.
- Is there a fix for GHSA-63F5-HHC7-CX6P? Yes. GHSA-63F5-HHC7-CX6P is fixed in 2026.3.13. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is GHSA-63F5-HHC7-CX6P exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether GHSA-63F5-HHC7-CX6P 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 GHSA-63F5-HHC7-CX6P 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 GHSA-63F5-HHC7-CX6P? Upgrade
openclawto 2026.3.13 or later.