# Paperclip improper access control in codex_local inherits OpenAI Gmail connectors

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/paperclip-improper-access-control-in-codex-local-inherits-openai-gmail-185d94bc  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-04-16. Updated: 2026-05-11  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

Severity: high · CVSS 8.7 · Published 2026-04-16

Paperclip, an AI agent orchestration platform, contains a vulnerability where local agent runtimes can automatically inherit and use Gmail credentials from a user's OpenAI/ChatGPT account without explicit permission. This allows an AI agent to read personal emails, disclose mailbox identities, and send unauthorized outbound messages. In practice, this could lead to sensitive data exposure or the use of a user's professional identity to send fraudulent or malicious emails.

Technologies: [Paperclip AI Paperclip](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/paperclip). Vendors: [npm](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/npm), [Paperclip AI](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/paperclip-ai).

## Quick answers

**Is This vulnerability exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of This vulnerability being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is This vulnerability?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 8.7, published 16 April 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** paperclipai (npm) <= 2026.403.0; Paperclip AI Paperclip <= 2026.403.0.

**Is there a fix for This vulnerability?** 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 This vulnerability attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected?** Check whether you run paperclipai (npm) or Paperclip AI Paperclip 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 trust-boundary failure in the Paperclip-managed 'codex_local' runtime allows it to access cached OpenAI curated connector states, such as Gmail credentials, stored in the 'codex-home' directory. This occurs even if the user has not explicitly integrated Gmail within Paperclip. The risk is further escalated by a default configuration where 'dangerouslyBypassApprovalsAndSandbox' is set to true, allowing newly created agents to perform read/write actions (like 'gmail_send_email') without user approval or sandboxing. An attacker or a misconfigured agent could leverage this to search mailboxes or send unauthorized emails using the victim's authenticated session. No patch is currently specified in the advisory.

## Affected products

- Paperclip AI paperclipai/paperclip <= 2026.403.0

## Timeline

- 2026-04-16: disclosed: Advisory published on GitHub

## References

- [https://api.github.com/users/madrobotnet](https://api.github.com/users/madrobotnet)
- [https://github.com/madrobotnet](https://github.com/madrobotnet)
- [https://api.github.com/users/madrobotnet/gists%7B/gist_id%7D](https://api.github.com/users/madrobotnet/gists%7B/gist_id%7D)
- [https://api.github.com/users/madrobotnet/repos](https://api.github.com/users/madrobotnet/repos)
- [https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/256992008?v=4](https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/256992008?v=4)
- [https://api.github.com/users/madrobotnet/events%7B/privacy%7D](https://api.github.com/users/madrobotnet/events%7B/privacy%7D)

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