# GHSA-h656-5vcf-cm23: OpenClaw: Unauthorized Telegram Senders Trigger Media Download and Disk Write Before Access Check

> Unauthorized Telegram senders can trigger media downloads and disk writes before authorization checks, potentially causing resource exhaustion or unauthorized data storage.

- **Severity:** Not scored
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 3 Mar 2026

## What is GHSA-h656-5vcf-cm23?

GHSA-h656-5vcf-cm23 is a missing authorization vulnerability in openclaw, published on 3 Mar 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

## Impact

In Telegram DM mode, inbound media was downloaded and written to disk before sender authorization checks completed. An unauthorized sender could trigger inbound media download/write activity (including media groups) even when DM access should be denied.

## Affected Packages / Versions

- Package: `openclaw` (npm)
- Latest published version currently affected: `2026.2.23`
- Vulnerable range: `<= 2026.2.23`
- Patched in planned next release: `2026.2.24`

## Fix Commit(s)

- `9514201fb9b51de5d0b23151110d0ff5d9c8bd67`

## Technical Details

The Telegram handler flow now enforces DM authorization before media download/write paths execute, including media-group handling. Inbound channel activity tracking was also moved to run after DM authorization in the Telegram message context path.

## Release Process Note

`patched_versions` is pre-set to the planned next release (`2026.2.24`). After npm publish, the advisory can be published without further version-field edits.

OpenClaw thanks @v8hid for reporting.

### Publication Update (2026-02-25)
`openclaw@2026.2.24` is published on npm and contains the fix commit(s) listed above. This advisory now marks `>= 2026.2.24` as patched.

## Which versions are affected by GHSA-h656-5vcf-cm23?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including openclaw.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `openclaw` | npm | All versions | 2026.2.24 |
| `openclaw` | npm | All versions | 2026.2.24 |

## How do I fix GHSA-h656-5vcf-cm23?

Upgrade openclaw to 2026.2.24 or later.

## Is GHSA-h656-5vcf-cm23 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of GHSA-h656-5vcf-cm23 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for GHSA-h656-5vcf-cm23 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: GHSA-h656-5vcf-cm23 is a missing authorization vulnerability in openclaw, published on 3 Mar 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of GHSA-h656-5vcf-cm23 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- openclaw (npm): affected all versions; fixed in 2026.2.24
- openclaw (npm): affected all versions; fixed in 2026.2.24

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/GHSA-h656-5vcf-cm23/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/GHSA-h656-5vcf-cm23/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-h656-5vcf-cm23

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/GHSA-h656-5vcf-cm23/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.