Openclaw · Openclaw · CVE-2026-25253
**Name of the Vulnerable Software and Affected Versions**
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.1.29
**Description**
An authentication bypass issue exists in the WebSocket gateway of OpenClaw. The software fails to validate the user-supplied `gatewayUrl` parameter before initializing WebSocket connections. This allows unauthenticated remote attackers to exfiltrate bearer tokens and perform server-side request forgery (SSRF), which is a technique where an attacker forces a server to make requests to internal or external resources.
Exploitation can lead to the disclosure of authentication tokens, theft of cloud metadata and IAM credentials, and full compromise of connected automation workflows. In some configurations, this can allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on the host machine, potentially granting access to the file system and shell. Active exploitation has been observed in the wild.
**Recommendations**
Upgrade to OpenClaw version 2026.1.29 or later.
Restrict external access to OpenClaw dashboard endpoints.
Deploy WAF rules to block malicious `gatewayUrl` values.
Enforce strict egress filtering.
Rotate all exposed credentials.