CVE-2026-35638: OpenClaw before 2026.3.22 contains a privilege escalation vulnerability in the Control UI that allows unauthen

Routine

HIGH 8.8UPGRADE

CVE-2026-35638 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 8.8) affecting openclaw. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

OpenClaw before 2026.3.22 contains a privilege escalation vulnerability in the Control UI that allows unauthenticated sessions to retain self-declared privileged scopes without device identity verification. Attackers can exploit the device-less allow path in the trusted-proxy mechanism to maintain elevated permissions by declaring arbitrary scopes, bypassing device identity requirements.

Why this priority

High severity

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	8.8 (High)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	Low
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	0.3% (top 79%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-286
Published	2026-04-09
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): VulnCheck · Vendor: openclaw

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2026-04-09 22:16 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 10:40 UTCUpdated Record last modified

openclaw openclaw UPGRADE

Affected: < 2026.3.22

Fixed in: 2026.3.22

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

npm ls openclaw

2. UPGRADE to 2026.3.22

npm install openclaw@">=2026.3.22"

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2026-35638?

openclaw: upgrade to 2026.3.22. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2026-35638 being exploited?

CVE-2026-35638 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2026-35638 affect?

CVE-2026-35638 affects openclaw. Severity is high (CVSS 8.8). OpenClaw before 2026.3.22 contains a privilege escalation vulnerability in the Control UI that allows unauthenticated sessions to retain self-declared privileged scopes without device identity verification. Attackers can exploit the device-

How urgent is CVE-2026-35638?

Priority 36/100. High severity

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References

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