CVE-2026-27484: Openclaw Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2026-27484 Overview

CVE-2026-27484 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability (CWE-862) affecting OpenClaw, a personal AI assistant application. The vulnerability exists in versions 2026.2.17 and below where Discord moderation action handling (timeout, kick, ban) uses sender identity from request parameters in tool-driven flows instead of trusted runtime sender context. This design flaw allows non-admin users to spoof sender identity fields and perform unauthorized moderation actions.

Critical Impact

In setups where Discord moderation actions are enabled and the bot has the necessary guild permissions, a non-admin user can request moderation actions by spoofing sender identity fields, potentially leading to unauthorized user bans, kicks, or timeouts.

Affected Products

• OpenClaw versions 2026.2.17 and below
• OpenClaw for Node.js (all affected versions)
• Deployments with Discord moderation actions enabled and necessary guild permissions

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-21 - CVE-2026-27484 published to NVD
• 2026-02-23 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-27484

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability represents a classic Missing Authorization flaw where the application fails to properly verify user permissions before executing privileged operations. The OpenClaw AI assistant's Discord moderation functionality trusts sender identity data passed through request parameters rather than deriving identity from authenticated session context.

When processing moderation commands (timeout, kick, ban), the vulnerable code paths accept user-provided sender identity fields without validation against the actual authenticated user context. This architectural weakness means an attacker with basic access to the bot can craft requests that impersonate administrators, bypassing the intended authorization checks.

Root Cause

The root cause stems from improper trust boundaries in the tool-driven flow architecture. The Discord moderation tools were designed to accept sender identity from request parameters rather than enforcing trusted runtime sender context validation. This violates the principle of least privilege and creates an authorization bypass vector where any user with access to the moderation action endpoints can impersonate higher-privileged users.

Attack Vector

An attacker exploiting this vulnerability would need:

1. Access to a Discord server where the vulnerable OpenClaw bot is deployed
2. The bot must have moderation permissions (ban, kick, timeout) granted in the guild
3. Discord moderation actions must be enabled in the OpenClaw configuration

The attack is network-based and requires low privileges to execute. An attacker can craft malicious requests that spoof the sender identity fields, causing the bot to execute moderation actions as if initiated by an authorized administrator.

// Security patch in src/agents/openclaw-tools.ts
// Source: https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/775816035ecc6bb243843f8000c9a58ff609e32d

 import type { OpenClawConfig } from "../config/config.js";
-import { resolvePluginTools } from "../plugins/tools.js";
 import type { GatewayMessageChannel } from "../utils/message-channel.js";
-import { resolveSessionAgentId } from "./agent-scope.js";
 import type { SandboxFsBridge } from "./sandbox/fs-bridge.js";
+import type { AnyAgentTool } from "./tools/common.js";
+import { resolvePluginTools } from "../plugins/tools.js";
+import { resolveSessionAgentId } from "./agent-scope.js";
 import { createAgentsListTool } from "./tools/agents-list-tool.js";
 import { createBrowserTool } from "./tools/browser-tool.js";
 import { createCanvasTool } from "./tools/canvas-tool.js";
-import type { AnyAgentTool } from "./tools/common.js";
 import { createCronTool } from "./tools/cron-tool.js";
 import { createGatewayTool } from "./tools/gateway-tool.js";
 import { createImageTool } from "./tools/image-tool.js";

The fix enforces trusted sender authentication for Discord moderation actions by restructuring the import order and ensuring AnyAgentTool type validation occurs properly in the authorization flow.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-27484

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected moderation actions (bans, kicks, timeouts) in Discord server audit logs
• Moderation actions attributed to the OpenClaw bot that were not initiated by authorized administrators
• Discrepancies between user-reported actions and actual authenticated user sessions
• Unusual patterns of moderation requests in OpenClaw application logs

Detection Strategies

• Review Discord server audit logs for moderation actions that don't correlate with administrator activity
• Implement logging of sender identity fields alongside authenticated session context to detect spoofing attempts
• Monitor for rapid or unusual sequences of moderation commands that may indicate exploitation
• Cross-reference OpenClaw bot activity with administrator availability and authorized actions

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging for all moderation action requests in OpenClaw
• Set up alerts for moderation actions executed outside of normal administrative hours
• Implement rate limiting and anomaly detection on moderation endpoints
• Regularly audit Discord bot permissions and restrict to minimum necessary privileges

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-27484

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade OpenClaw to version 2026.2.18 or later immediately
• Review Discord server audit logs for any unauthorized moderation actions
• Temporarily disable Discord moderation features if immediate upgrade is not possible
• Verify that OpenClaw bot permissions are restricted to the minimum required scope

Patch Information

The vulnerability has been fixed in OpenClaw version 2026.2.18. The security patch enforces trusted sender authentication for Discord moderation actions, ensuring that user identity is derived from the authenticated runtime context rather than request parameters.

For detailed patch information, see:

• GitHub Commit Update
• GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-wh94-p5m6-mr7
• GitHub Release v2026.2.19

Workarounds

• Disable Discord moderation actions in OpenClaw configuration until patched
• Remove or restrict Discord bot permissions (ban, kick, manage messages) at the guild level
• Implement additional authorization checks at the Discord server level using role restrictions
• Use Discord's native moderation features instead of bot-driven moderation until the fix is applied

# Configuration example - Disable moderation features temporarily
# In your OpenClaw configuration file (config.json or environment variables)

# Option 1: Disable Discord moderation in config
export OPENCLAW_DISCORD_MODERATION_ENABLED=false

# Option 2: Restrict bot permissions at Discord guild level
# Navigate to Server Settings > Roles > OpenClaw Bot Role
# Disable: Ban Members, Kick Members, Moderate Members

# Option 3: Update to patched version
npm update openclaw@2026.2.18
# or
yarn upgrade openclaw@2026.2.18