CVE-2026-41302: OpenClaw SSRF Vulnerability

CVE-2026-41302 Overview

OpenClaw before version 2026.3.31 contains a server-side request forgery (SSRF) vulnerability in the marketplace plugin download functionality. This flaw allows remote attackers to make arbitrary network requests through unguarded fetch() calls, potentially accessing internal resources or interacting with external services on behalf of the affected system.

Critical Impact

Attackers can leverage this SSRF vulnerability to probe internal network infrastructure, access cloud metadata services, or pivot to other internal systems that would otherwise be inaccessible from external networks.

Affected Products

• OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.3.31

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-04-21 - CVE-2026-41302 published to NVD
• 2026-04-21 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-41302

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-918 (Server-Side Request Forgery). The flaw exists in OpenClaw's marketplace plugin download functionality, where user-controlled input is passed to server-side fetch() calls without proper validation or restrictions. This allows an authenticated attacker with low privileges to manipulate the target URL, causing the server to make requests to arbitrary destinations.

SSRF vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous in cloud environments where attackers can target metadata services (such as 169.254.169.254) to retrieve sensitive credentials or configuration data. The vulnerability requires some user interaction and specific conditions to exploit, but successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized access to internal resources and potential data exfiltration from protected network segments.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the marketplace plugin download feature's failure to validate or restrict URLs before making server-side HTTP requests. The fetch() function is called with user-supplied URLs without implementing allowlists, denylists, or URL scheme restrictions. This oversight permits attackers to specify arbitrary destinations including internal IP addresses, localhost endpoints, and cloud metadata services.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, requiring an authenticated attacker to submit a crafted request to the marketplace plugin download endpoint. The attacker manipulates the plugin download URL parameter to point to an internal resource or external service of their choosing.

The exploitation flow typically involves:

1. An authenticated user with low privileges accesses the marketplace plugin download functionality
2. The attacker substitutes the legitimate plugin URL with a malicious destination (e.g., internal service, cloud metadata endpoint)
3. The server's fetch() call processes the request without validation
4. The server makes the request on behalf of the attacker and returns the response
5. The attacker extracts sensitive information from internal services or performs actions against external systems

For technical implementation details, refer to the GitHub Security Advisory and the VulnCheck SSRF Advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-41302

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual outbound requests from the OpenClaw server to internal IP ranges (e.g., 10.x.x.x, 172.16.x.x, 192.168.x.x)
• Requests to cloud metadata endpoints such as 169.254.169.254 originating from the application server
• Plugin download requests containing non-standard URLs or IP addresses instead of legitimate marketplace domains
• Unexpected network traffic patterns from the OpenClaw server to previously uncontacted internal services

Detection Strategies

• Monitor web application logs for marketplace plugin download requests containing suspicious URL patterns or internal IP addresses
• Implement network-level monitoring to detect outbound requests from the OpenClaw server to internal resources or cloud metadata services
• Deploy SentinelOne Singularity to detect and alert on anomalous network behavior indicative of SSRF exploitation attempts
• Review access logs for authenticated users making repeated or unusual plugin download requests

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for all marketplace-related API endpoints and fetch() operations
• Configure alerts for requests targeting RFC 1918 private IP ranges, localhost, or link-local addresses from the application layer
• Implement egress filtering and monitor for policy violations from the OpenClaw server
• Utilize SentinelOne's behavioral AI to identify patterns consistent with SSRF reconnaissance or exploitation

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-41302

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade OpenClaw to version 2026.3.31 or later immediately
• Audit existing logs for evidence of SSRF exploitation attempts
• Implement network segmentation to limit the blast radius if the vulnerability has been exploited
• Review and restrict the OpenClaw server's outbound network access to only necessary destinations

Patch Information

The vulnerability has been addressed in the GitHub commit 8deb9522f3d2680820588b190adb4a2a52f3670b. Organizations should apply this patch by upgrading to OpenClaw version 2026.3.31 or later. Review the GitHub Security Advisory for additional guidance.

Workarounds

• Implement a web application firewall (WAF) rule to block plugin download requests containing internal IP addresses or suspicious URL patterns
• Configure network-level egress filtering to prevent the OpenClaw server from accessing internal resources or cloud metadata endpoints
• Disable the marketplace plugin download functionality if not required until the patch can be applied
• Deploy SentinelOne Singularity endpoint protection to monitor for and block suspicious outbound connection attempts

# Example: Restrict outbound access using iptables (temporary mitigation)
# Block access to common internal ranges and cloud metadata
iptables -A OUTPUT -m owner --uid-owner openclaw -d 169.254.169.254 -j DROP
iptables -A OUTPUT -m owner --uid-owner openclaw -d 10.0.0.0/8 -j DROP
iptables -A OUTPUT -m owner --uid-owner openclaw -d 172.16.0.0/12 -j DROP
iptables -A OUTPUT -m owner --uid-owner openclaw -d 192.168.0.0/16 -j DROP