EUVD-2026-9918

Comprehensive Technical Analysis of EUVD-2026-9918

1. Vulnerability Assessment and Severity Evaluation

The vulnerability in OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.2 involves a flaw in the gateway WebSocket connect handshake process. Specifically, the issue arises from the gateway allowing the skipping of device identity checks when an auth.token is present but not validated. This vulnerability can be exploited to gain operator access without providing the necessary device identity or pairing.

Severity Evaluation:

• Base Score: 9.2
• Base Score Version: 4.0
• Base Score Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

The high base score of 9.2 indicates a critical vulnerability. The CVSS vector highlights that the attack vector is network-based (AV:N), the attack complexity is high (AC:H), and the attacker does not need any privileges (PR:N) or user interaction (UI:N). The vulnerability has high impacts on confidentiality (VC:H), integrity (VI:H), and availability (VA:H).

2. Potential Attack Vectors and Exploitation Methods

Attack Vectors:

• Network-Based Attack: An attacker can exploit this vulnerability over the network without needing physical access to the device.
• Authentication Bypass: The attacker can bypass the device identity check by exploiting the presence check of the auth.token instead of its validation.

Exploitation Methods:

• WebSocket Handshake Manipulation: The attacker can manipulate the WebSocket handshake process to include a non-validated auth.token, thereby skipping the device identity checks.
• Operator Access Gain: By exploiting this vulnerability, the attacker can gain operator access, potentially leading to unauthorized control over the gateway and connected devices.

3. Affected Systems and Software Versions

Affected Systems:

• OpenClaw gateway deployments using versions prior to 2026.2.2.

Software Versions:

• All versions of OpenClaw from 0 to 2026.2.2 are affected.

4. Recommended Mitigation Strategies

Immediate Actions:

• Upgrade to the Latest Version: Upgrade OpenClaw to version 2026.2.2 or later, which includes the fix for this vulnerability.
• Network Segmentation: Implement network segmentation to isolate vulnerable gateways from critical systems.
• Monitoring and Logging: Enhance monitoring and logging to detect any unauthorized access attempts.

Long-Term Strategies:

• Regular Security Audits: Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments.
• Patch Management: Implement a robust patch management process to ensure timely updates and patches.
• Access Controls: Strengthen access controls and authentication mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access.

5. Impact on European Cybersecurity Landscape

The vulnerability in OpenClaw, a widely used gateway solution, poses a significant risk to the European cybersecurity landscape. Unauthorized access to gateways can lead to data breaches, loss of control over connected devices, and potential disruption of critical infrastructure. This underscores the importance of timely patching and robust security measures to protect against such vulnerabilities.

6. Technical Details for Security Professionals

Vulnerability Details:

• CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration): CWE-287 (Improper Authentication)
• Exploit Mechanism: The vulnerability is exploited by manipulating the WebSocket handshake process to include a non-validated auth.token, thereby bypassing device identity checks.
• Detection: Monitor network traffic for unusual WebSocket handshake patterns and unauthorized access attempts.
• Mitigation: Ensure proper validation of auth.token during the WebSocket handshake process. Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) and strong access controls.

References:

• GitHub Security Advisory
• GitHub Commit
• VulnCheck Advisory

Aliases:

• CVE-2026-28472

Assigner:

• VulnCheck

ENISA IDs:

• Product: OpenClaw (ID: 542f85af-6f44-3eca-be48-b3d7fce94dee)
• Vendor: OpenClaw (ID: eccfaca5-b99b-3bb1-8229-42ccf2091210)

By addressing this vulnerability promptly and implementing the recommended mitigation strategies, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access and potential breaches.