# CVE-2026-35663: OpenClaw < 2026.3.25 - Privilege Escalation via Backend Reconnect Scope Self-Claim

> Non-admin operators can self-request broader scopes during backend reconnect to gain unauthorized administrative privileges in OpenClaw.

- **Severity:** High 8.7 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 10 Apr 2026
- **Updated:** 23 Jun 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-9hjh-fr4f-gxc4, MINI-crwp-m5c9-xv7c

## What is CVE-2026-35663?

CVE-2026-35663 is a high-severity vulnerability in Openclaw Openclaw, published on 10 Apr 2026. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

OpenClaw before 2026.3.25 contains a privilege escalation vulnerability allowing non-admin operators to self-request broader scopes during backend reconnect. Attackers can bypass pairing requirements to reconnect as operator.admin, gaining unauthorized administrative privileges.

Weakness: CWE-648 (Incorrect Use of Privileged APIs)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-35663?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including openclaw. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `openclaw` | npm | All versions to 2026.3.24 | None |
| `openclaw` | npm | All versions to 2026.3.24 | None |

Products: Openclaw Openclaw.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-35663?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-35663 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-35663 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-35663 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Openclaw Openclaw

- [CVE-2026-28363](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-28363/): Security feature bypass in OpenClaw (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2026-30741](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-30741/): Code injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2026-33579](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-33579/): OpenClaw < 2026.3.28 - Privilege Escalation via Missing Caller Scope Validation in Device Pair Approval (critical 9.4)
- [CVE-2026-32922](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-32922/): OpenClaw < 2026.3.11 - Privilege Escalation via Unvalidated Scope in device.token.rotate (critical 9.4)
- [CVE-2026-32978](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-32978/): OpenClaw < 2026.3.11 - Approval Bypass via Unrecognized Script Runners (critical 9.4)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-35663 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-35663 is a high-severity vulnerability in Openclaw Openclaw, published on 10 Apr 2026. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-35663 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- openclaw (npm): affected all versions up to 2026.3.24; no fix listed
- openclaw (npm): affected all versions up to 2026.3.24; no fix listed

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-35663/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-35663/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-35663
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-35663
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-35663

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-35663/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.