CVE-2026-44991

Description

## Impact OpenClaw deployments before `2026.4.21` could treat a non-owner sender as authorized for owner-enforced slash commands when all of the following were true: - a channel plugin declared `commands.enforceOwnerForCommands: true`; - the channel accepted wildcard inbound senders with `allowFrom: ["*"]`; - no explicit `commands.ownerAllowFrom` was configured. In that state, `src/auto-reply/command-auth.ts` reused the channel inbound wildcard as part of the command-owner decision. A sender who was not the owner could therefore pass the owner-command gate for commands such as `/send`, `/config`, or `/debug` on the affected channel. The issue is limited to the command-owner authorization axis. It does not by itself grant owner-only tool access, host/sandbox access, or gateway administrator scope. ## Affected Packages / Versions - Package: `openclaw` on npm - Affected versions: `<= 2026.4.20` - Patched version: `2026.4.21` The latest public release, `2026.4.21`, contains the fix. ## Patches The fix requires a concrete owner identity or internal operator-admin scope when a plugin enforces owner-only commands. Wildcard channel `allowFrom` no longer implies wildcard command ownership. Fix commits: - `2aa93d44a1b2c7058c371f261fda2b5d4de4a882` on `main` - `995febb7b1e811ff6a1df5b18c22de94103f4c9f` in the `2026.4.21` release line ## Workarounds Upgrade to `[email protected]` or later. Before upgrading, avoid wildcard/open-DM sender policy on owner-enforced channels, or configure `commands.ownerAllowFrom` to the intended owner identities. ## Credits OpenClaw thanks @zsxsoft for reporting.

How to fix CVE-2026-44991

To remediate CVE-2026-44991, upgrade the affected package to a fixed version below.

• —upgrade to 2026.4.21 or later

Is CVE-2026-44991 being exploited?

Low — EPSS is 0.0%, meaning exploitation activity has not been observed at scale.

Affected packages (1)

• from 0, < 2026.4.21