CVE-2026-28454

Comprehensive Technical Analysis of CVE-2026-28454

1. Vulnerability Assessment and Severity Evaluation

CVE ID: CVE-2026-28454 CVSS Score: 9.8

The vulnerability in OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.2 is critical due to the failure to validate webhook secrets in Telegram webhook mode. This allows unauthenticated HTTP POST requests to the webhook endpoint, enabling attackers to forge Telegram updates and bypass sender allowlists. The high CVSS score of 9.8 indicates the severity of the vulnerability, which can lead to significant security breaches.

2. Potential Attack Vectors and Exploitation Methods

Attack Vectors:

• Unauthenticated HTTP POST Requests: Attackers can send HTTP POST requests to the webhook endpoint without proper authentication.
• JSON Payload Manipulation: Attackers can manipulate the JSON payload to spoof message.from.id and chat.id fields, allowing them to impersonate legitimate users.

Exploitation Methods:

• Forging Telegram Updates: By spoofing the message.from.id and chat.id fields, attackers can create fake Telegram updates that appear to come from trusted sources.
• Bypassing Sender Allowlists: Attackers can execute privileged bot commands by bypassing the sender allowlists, leading to unauthorized actions.

3. Affected Systems and Software Versions

Affected Software:

• OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.2

Affected Systems:

• Any system running the vulnerable versions of OpenClaw with Telegram webhook mode enabled.

4. Recommended Mitigation Strategies

Immediate Actions:

• Upgrade to the Latest Version: Upgrade OpenClaw to version 2026.2.2 or later, which includes the necessary fixes.
• Disable Telegram Webhook Mode: If upgrading is not immediately possible, disable Telegram webhook mode to prevent exploitation.

Long-Term Mitigations:

• Implement Strong Authentication: Ensure that all webhook endpoints require strong authentication mechanisms.
• Regular Security Audits: Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments to identify and mitigate similar issues.
• Monitoring and Logging: Implement robust monitoring and logging to detect and respond to any suspicious activities.

5. Impact on Cybersecurity Landscape

The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper authentication and validation mechanisms in webhook implementations. It underscores the need for continuous security assessments and timely updates to mitigate potential risks. The high CVSS score indicates the significant impact this vulnerability can have on systems relying on OpenClaw for Telegram integrations.

6. Technical Details for Security Professionals

Vulnerability Details:

• Root Cause: The failure to validate webhook secrets in Telegram webhook mode allows unauthenticated HTTP POST requests.
• Exploitation: Attackers can send crafted JSON payloads to the webhook endpoint, spoofing message.from.id and chat.id fields to impersonate legitimate users and execute privileged commands.

References:

• GitHub Commit 3cbcba10cf30c2ffb898f0d8c7dfb929f15f8930
• GitHub Commit 5643a934799dc523ec2ef18c007e1aa2c386b670
• GitHub Commit 633fe8b9c17f02fcc68ecdb5ec212a5ace932f09
• GitHub Commit ca92597e1f9593236ad86810b66633144b69314d
• GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-fhvm-j76f-qmjv
• VulnCheck Advisory

Conclusion: CVE-2026-28454 represents a critical vulnerability in OpenClaw that can be exploited to perform unauthorized actions. Immediate upgrades and robust authentication mechanisms are essential to mitigate this risk. The cybersecurity community should prioritize addressing such vulnerabilities to ensure the integrity and security of webhook implementations.