CVE-2026-41297 Overview
CVE-2026-41297 is a Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability in OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.3.31. The flaw exists in the marketplace plugin download functionality, specifically within the marketplace.ts module, which fails to properly validate redirect destinations during archive downloads. This allows authenticated attackers to redirect server-side requests to arbitrary internal or external servers, potentially exposing sensitive internal resources.
Critical Impact
Attackers can leverage this SSRF vulnerability to access internal network resources, potentially bypassing network segmentation and firewall controls to reach sensitive internal services that should not be externally accessible.
Affected Products
- OpenClaw versions before 2026.3.31
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-04-21 - CVE-2026-41297 published to NVD
- 2026-04-21 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-41297
Vulnerability Analysis
This SSRF vulnerability stems from improper validation of redirect responses in the marketplace plugin download process. When OpenClaw's marketplace functionality processes plugin archive downloads, it follows HTTP redirects without validating whether the destination URL points to allowed external resources or potentially dangerous internal endpoints.
The marketplace.ts module handles plugin downloads from external marketplace sources. During this process, if the remote server responds with a redirect (HTTP 3xx status codes), the application follows the redirect without checking if the new destination is within an allowlist of safe domains or whether it points to internal network addresses such as localhost, 127.0.0.1, or private IP ranges like 10.x.x.x, 172.16.x.x, or 192.168.x.x.
An attacker with the ability to control or manipulate a marketplace plugin source could craft a malicious redirect that causes the OpenClaw server to make requests to internal services. This could enable reconnaissance of internal network topology, access to cloud metadata services (such as AWS EC2 metadata at 169.254.169.254), or interaction with internal APIs that trust requests originating from the local network.
Root Cause
The root cause of CVE-2026-41297 is the absence of redirect destination validation in the HTTP client implementation used by the marketplace plugin download functionality. The marketplace.ts module does not implement URL allowlisting or blocklisting for redirect targets, nor does it restrict redirects to the original domain or validate that redirect destinations are not pointing to internal network addresses.
Attack Vector
The attack requires network access and involves manipulating the plugin download flow to trigger server-side requests to attacker-controlled destinations or internal resources. An authenticated user with marketplace access privileges initiates a plugin download that has been configured to redirect to an internal resource. The server follows this redirect, making the request on behalf of the attacker and potentially returning sensitive internal data or triggering actions on internal services.
The vulnerability exploits the trust relationship between the OpenClaw server and internal network resources, as internal services often assume that requests originating from within the network are legitimate and trusted.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-41297
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual outbound HTTP requests from the OpenClaw server to internal IP addresses or cloud metadata endpoints during marketplace operations
- Log entries showing plugin download requests with redirect chains leading to private IP ranges or localhost
- Network traffic from the OpenClaw server to unexpected internal services or metadata endpoints like 169.254.169.254
Detection Strategies
- Monitor OpenClaw application logs for marketplace download operations that result in connections to non-public IP addresses
- Implement network-level detection for outbound connections from the OpenClaw server to internal RFC 1918 addresses or link-local addresses
- Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and alert on SSRF patterns in marketplace-related requests
Monitoring Recommendations
- Configure network monitoring to alert on any connections from the OpenClaw server process to internal network ranges during normal marketplace operations
- Enable verbose logging for the marketplace module to capture full redirect chains for forensic analysis
- Monitor for access to cloud provider metadata services from application servers that should not normally make such requests
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-41297
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade OpenClaw to version 2026.3.31 or later, which contains the security fix
- If immediate upgrade is not possible, consider temporarily disabling the marketplace plugin download functionality until patching can be completed
- Review firewall rules to restrict outbound connections from the OpenClaw server to only necessary external endpoints
Patch Information
The vulnerability has been addressed in OpenClaw version 2026.3.31. The fix is available in GitHub commit 2ce44ca. Additional details are available in the GitHub Security Advisory and the VulnCheck SSRF Advisory.
Workarounds
- Implement network-level controls to prevent the OpenClaw server from connecting to internal IP ranges (RFC 1918) and cloud metadata endpoints
- Deploy a proxy server for all outbound marketplace requests that enforces URL allowlisting and blocks requests to internal resources
- Temporarily disable or restrict access to the marketplace plugin download functionality for untrusted users until the patch can be applied
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
