# CVE-2026-35663: OpenClaw privilege escalation in gateway backend reconnect

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-35663-openclaw-privilege-escalation-in-gateway-backend-reconnect  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-04-10. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-35663 · Severity: critical · CVSS 8.8 · Published 2026-04-10

OpenClaw is a gateway backend service. A vulnerability in its reconnection logic allows users with limited permissions to upgrade their own access to full administrator status. This could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data and full control over the system's operations.

Technologies: [openclaw (npm)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/npm-openclaw), [Openclaw](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/openclaw). Vendors: [npm](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/npm), [Openclaw](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/openclaw).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-35663 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-35663 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-35663?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 8.8, published 10 April 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** openclaw (npm) SEMVER:introduced=0,last_affected=2026.3.24; Openclaw <= 2026.3.24.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-35663?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-35663 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-35663?** Check whether you run openclaw (npm) or Openclaw at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

A privilege escalation vulnerability exists in OpenClaw due to improper authorization checks during backend-labeled reconnection. The system previously allowed reconnecting sessions to self-request broader scopes and bypass the pairing process if they were labeled as backend components. An attacker with low-privileged 'operator' access can exploit this by requesting the 'operator.admin' scope during a reconnect, effectively bypassing security baselines. The fix, implemented in commit d3d8e316bd819d3c7e34253aeb7eccb2510f5f48, removes the self-pairing skip and enforces pairing whenever requested scopes exceed the approved baseline.

## Affected products

- OpenClaw openclaw <= 2026.3.24

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-35663
- GHSA-9hjh-fr4f-gxc4

## Timeline

- 2026-03-26: disclosed
- 2026-03-27: advisory: GHSA-9hjh-fr4f-gxc4 published

## References

- [https://api.github.com/users/zpbrent](https://api.github.com/users/zpbrent)
- [https://github.com/zpbrent](https://github.com/zpbrent)
- [https://api.github.com/users/zpbrent/gists%7B/gist_id%7D](https://api.github.com/users/zpbrent/gists%7B/gist_id%7D)
- [https://api.github.com/users/zpbrent/repos](https://api.github.com/users/zpbrent/repos)
- [https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/834641?v=4](https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/834641?v=4)
- [https://api.github.com/users/zpbrent/events%7B/privacy%7D](https://api.github.com/users/zpbrent/events%7B/privacy%7D)

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