Medium

OpenClaw's gateway tokenless Tailscale auth applied to HTTP routes

  • Disclosed: 03.03.2026
  • Updated: 11.10.2026 10:22

Summary

When tokenless Tailscale auth is enabled, OpenClaw should only allow forwarded-header auth for Control UI websocket authentication on trusted hosts. In affected versions, that tokenless path could also be used by HTTP gateway auth call sites, which could bypass token/password requirements for HTTP routes in trusted-network deployments.

Affected Packages / Versions

  • Package: openclaw (npm)
  • Affected range: <= 2026.2.19-2 (latest published npm version as of February 21, 2026)
  • Patched in: planned 2026.2.21 release

Impact

Deployments relying on token/password for HTTP gateway routes could be downgraded to tokenless behavior when Tailscale header auth is enabled. This weakens expected HTTP route authentication boundaries even in trusted-host network setups.

Per SECURITY.md, this does not affect the recommended setup: keep the Gateway loopback-only (or otherwise within a trusted host/network boundary), use Tailscale serve/funnel for remote access, and keep tokenless Tailscale auth scoped to Control UI websocket login.

Fix

  • Added an explicit auth-surface gate (allowTailscaleHeaderAuth, default false) in gateway auth.
  • Enabled tokenless Tailscale header auth only for Control UI websocket authentication.
  • Kept HTTP gateway auth call sites on token/password auth paths.
  • Added regression coverage for HTTP-vs-websocket behavior and Tailscale header handling.

Fix Commit(s)

  • 356d61aacfa5b0f1d5830716ec59d70682a3e7b8

Release Process Note

patched_versions is pre-set to the planned next release (2026.2.21) so once npm release is published, this advisory can be published directly without further field edits.

OpenClaw thanks @zpbrent for reporting.

Affected software

Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.

PlatformPackageVulnerable versionsFixed in
npm package openclaw < 2026.2.21 2026.2.21

References

CVSS score -
CVSS vector
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
Weakness (CWE)
CWE-290
Platform
npm
Package
openclaw
Disclosed
03.03.2026
Updated
11.10.2026 10:22

Sources and licenses

OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-hff7-ccv5-52f8 - CC BY 4.0

Vulnerability history: openclaw

All published vulnerabilities of this package (npm package), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.

All (588) in the archive
Total entries
588
First → latest
02.2026 07.2026
Without a fix
9
Exploited in attacks
0

Severity breakdown

  • Critical 20
  • High 215
  • Medium 299
  • Low 54

Disclosures per year

  1. 2026: 588
Severity:
  1. OpenClaw's gateway tokenless Tailscale auth applied to HTTP routes this entry
    Medium CVE-2026-32045 < 2026.2.21 2026.2.21
  2. High · 8.8 CVE-2026-53811 < 2026.5.7 2026.5.7
  3. High · 8.8 CVE-2026-53806 < 2026.5.12 2026.5.12
  4. High · 7.8 CVE-2026-53813 < 2026.4.25 2026.4.25
  5. High · 7.5 CVE-2026-53834 < 2026.4.27 2026.4.27
  6. Critical CVE-2026-34507 < 2026.4.29 2026.4.29
  7. High CVE-2026-53823 < 2026.5.3 2026.5.3
  8. High · 8.4 CVE-2026-53814 < 2026.5.20 2026.5.20
  9. High · 6.5 CVE-2026-53815 < 2026.5.19 2026.5.19
  10. High · 8.1 CVE-2026-53849 < 2026.5.7 2026.5.7
  11. High · 8.1 CVE-2026-53857 < 2026.5.3 2026.5.3
  12. High · 8.1 CVE-2026-53866 < 2026.5.12 2026.5.12
  13. High · 8.1 CVE-2026-53864 < 2026.5.26 2026.5.26
  14. Critical · 9.8 CVE-2026-44109 < 2026.4.15 2026.4.15
  15. Critical · 8.1 CVE-2026-43585 < 2026.4.15 2026.4.15
  16. High · 8.8 CVE-2026-43530 >= 2026.2.23, < 2026.4.12 2026.4.12
  17. High · 8.8 CVE-2026-42434 >= 2026.4.5, < 2026.4.10 2026.4.10
  18. High · 7.5 CVE-2026-42437 >= 2026.4.9, < 2026.4.10 2026.4.10
  19. High CVE-2026-41393 < 2026.3.31 2026.3.31
  20. Critical · 8.2 CVE-2026-41296 < 2026.3.31 2026.3.31
  21. High · 8.8 CVE-2026-41352 < 2026.3.31 2026.3.31
  22. High · 7.8 CVE-2026-41396 < 2026.3.31 2026.3.31
  23. High · 8.6 CVE-2026-35641 < 2026.3.24 2026.3.24
  24. High · 7.5 CVE-2026-35650 < 2026.3.22 2026.3.22
  25. High · 7.5 CVE-2026-32846 < 2026.03.28 2026.03.28
  26. High · 8.8 CVE-2026-33573 < 2026.3.11 2026.3.11
  27. Critical · 9.9 CVE-2026-22172 < 2026.3.12 2026.3.12
Show more (20) Showing 121 of 236

Know which vulnerabilities affect your application

With the DockRay integration and software inventory enabled, DockRay checks reported component versions against known vulnerabilities and notifies you about confirmed matches. Coverage depends on the supported technology and available advisory data.

Connect your application
DockRay newsletter

Application security in your inbox

Important vulnerabilities, actionable guidance and practical advice for your applications. Choose your technologies and follow what matters to your project.

  • A daily digest of new vulnerabilities, critical ones included.
  • Notifications about important updates.
  • Practical advice on application security and monitoring.

Leave empty to receive updates for every technology.

Free to subscribe. Unsubscribe with one click in any email.