Summary
OpenClaw log poisoning (indirect prompt injection) via WebSocket headers
In openclaw versions prior to 2026.2.13, OpenClaw logged certain WebSocket request headers (including Origin and User-Agent) without neutralization or length limits on the "closed before connect" path.
If an unauthenticated client can reach the gateway and send crafted header values, those values may be written into core logs. Under workflows where logs are later read or interpreted by an LLM (for example via AI-assisted debugging), this can increase the risk of indirect prompt injection (log poisoning).
Affected Packages / Versions
- Package:
openclaw(npm) - Affected:
<= 2026.2.12 - Fixed:
>= 2026.2.13
Details
- Component:
src/gateway/server/ws-connection.ts - Trigger: WebSocket connection closes before completing the connect/handshake; header values are included in the log message and structured context.
Workarounds
- Upgrade to
[email protected]or later. - Treat logs as untrusted input when using AI-assisted debugging (sanitize/escape, and do not auto-execute instructions derived from logs).
- Restrict gateway network exposure; apply reverse-proxy limits on header size where applicable.
Thanks @pkerkhofs for reporting.
Impact
This issue is primarily an indirect prompt injection risk and depends on downstream log consumption behavior. If you do not feed logs into an LLM or other automation, impact is limited.
GHSA-G27F-9QJV-22PM has a CVSS score of 3.1 (Low). The vector is network-reachable, no privileges required, and user interaction required. 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 (2026.2.13); 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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See it in your environmentNew to Kodem? Get a demo →Remediation advice
Header values written to gateway logs are now sanitized and truncated (including removal of control/format characters and length limiting).
- Fix commits:
d637a263505448bf4505b85535babbfaacedbaac,e84318e4bcdc948d92e57fda1eb763a65e1774f0(PR #15592)
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is GHSA-G27F-9QJV-22PM? GHSA-G27F-9QJV-22PM is a low-severity security vulnerability in openclaw (npm), affecting versions < 2026.2.13. It is fixed in 2026.2.13.
- How severe is GHSA-G27F-9QJV-22PM? GHSA-G27F-9QJV-22PM has a CVSS score of 3.1 (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 GHSA-G27F-9QJV-22PM? openclaw (npm) versions < 2026.2.13 is affected.
- Is there a fix for GHSA-G27F-9QJV-22PM? Yes. GHSA-G27F-9QJV-22PM is fixed in 2026.2.13. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is GHSA-G27F-9QJV-22PM exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether GHSA-G27F-9QJV-22PM 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-G27F-9QJV-22PM 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-G27F-9QJV-22PM? Upgrade
openclawto 2026.2.13 or later.