CVE-2026-17457 Overview
CVE-2026-17457 affects mf-yang openclaw-cn versions up to 0.2.1. The flaw resides in the assertBrowserNavigationAllowed function within src/browser/navigation-guard.ts, part of the Scheme Handler component. Attackers can manipulate the url argument to trigger information disclosure over the network. The issue is classified under CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor. The exploit has been publicly disclosed, and the project maintainers have not yet responded to the issue report.
Critical Impact
Remote attackers with low privileges can extract sensitive information by manipulating URL parameters passed to the browser navigation guard, without user interaction.
Affected Products
- mf-yang openclaw-cn versions up to 0.2.1
- Scheme Handler component (src/browser/navigation-guard.ts)
- The assertBrowserNavigationAllowed function
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-07-26 - CVE-2026-17457 published to NVD
- 2026-07-27 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-17457
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is an information disclosure issue in the assertBrowserNavigationAllowed function of the openclaw-cn application. The function is intended to serve as a navigation guard, validating URLs before permitting the browser to load them. Improper handling of the url argument allows attackers to influence the guard's logic and induce disclosure of information that should remain protected. The attack originates from the network and requires only low-level privileges, with no user interaction. Public disclosure of the exploit increases the likelihood of opportunistic abuse against unpatched instances.
Root Cause
The root cause lies in insufficient validation of the url parameter within the Scheme Handler's navigation guard. When the guard processes attacker-controlled URL input, it fails to properly restrict access to sensitive resources or context. This aligns with CWE-200, where information intended to be protected is exposed to unauthorized parties. Because the guard is invoked during scheme handling, crafted URLs can bypass its intended trust boundaries.
Attack Vector
A remote attacker submits a crafted URL that is processed by assertBrowserNavigationAllowed. The manipulated url argument causes the navigation guard to leak information rather than block the request. Exploitation requires network access to the application and low privileges. No user interaction is needed. Details of the exploit have been published via VulDB Vulnerability Detail and referenced in the project's GitHub Issue Discussion.
No verified proof-of-concept code is available in the referenced sources beyond the public disclosure. Consult the VulDB CVE Record for further technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-17457
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual URL patterns targeting the openclaw-cn Scheme Handler with unexpected schemes or encoded payloads in the url parameter.
- Application logs referencing assertBrowserNavigationAllowed invocations followed by access to sensitive internal resources.
- Outbound responses containing information not normally exposed to unauthenticated or low-privileged sessions.
Detection Strategies
- Instrument src/browser/navigation-guard.ts to log all rejected and accepted navigation decisions, including the full url argument and calling context.
- Deploy network detection rules that flag anomalous scheme handler requests originating from external sources.
- Review application access logs for repeated probing of the navigation guard endpoint from a single source.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Correlate authentication events with navigation guard traffic to identify low-privilege accounts issuing suspicious URL requests.
- Baseline normal Scheme Handler traffic volume and alert on statistically significant deviations.
- Track the GitHub Project Repository and GitHub Issue Discussion for upstream fixes or advisory updates.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-17457
Immediate Actions Required
- Inventory all deployments of mf-yang openclaw-cn at version 0.2.1 or earlier and restrict their network exposure until a patch is available.
- Enforce authentication and network access controls in front of the application to reduce the pool of potential low-privilege attackers.
- Monitor the GitHub Project Repository for maintainer response and patch commits.
Patch Information
At the time of publication, no vendor patch is available. According to the disclosure, the project was notified early through an issue report but has not responded. Track the GitHub Issue Discussion and VulDB CVE Record for updates on remediation.
Workarounds
- Restrict access to the openclaw-cn instance to trusted internal networks using firewall or reverse proxy rules until a fix is published.
- Add an upstream input validation layer that rejects unexpected or non-allowlisted URL schemes before requests reach assertBrowserNavigationAllowed.
- Revoke or minimize privileges of accounts that do not require access to the Scheme Handler functionality.
# Example: restrict openclaw-cn to loopback until patched
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport <openclaw-port> ! -s 127.0.0.1 -j DROP
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
