GHSA-rv39-79c4-7459
OpenClaw's gateway connect could skip device identity checks when auth.token was present but not yet validated
Packages
Details
As written in the advisory (Markdown source, shown as plain text).
### Summary
The gateway WebSocket `connect` handshake could allow skipping device identity checks when `auth.token` was present but not yet validated.
### Details
In `src/gateway/server/ws-connection/message-handler.ts`, the device-identity requirement could be bypassed based on the *presence* of a non-empty `connectParams.auth.token` rather than a *validated* shared-secret authentication result.
### Impact
In deployments where the gateway WebSocket is reachable and connections can be authorized via Tailscale without validating the shared secret, a client could connect without providing device identity/pairing. Depending on version and configuration, this could result in operator access.
### Deployment Guidance
Per OpenClaw security guidance, the gateway should only be reachable from a trusted network and by trusted users (for example, restrict Tailnet users/ACLs when using Tailscale Serve).
If the gateway WebSocket is only reachable by trusted users, there is typically no untrusted party with network access to exploit this issue.
### Affected Packages / Versions
- Package: `openclaw` (npm)
- Affected: `<= 2026.2.1`
- Fixed: `>= 2026.2.2`
### Fix
Device-identity skipping now requires *validated* shared-secret authentication (token/password). Tailscale-authenticated connections without validated shared secret require device identity.
### Fix Commit(s)
- fe81b1d7125a014b8280da461f34efbf5f761575
Thanks @simecek for reporting.
References
External links from the advisory. They lead to third-party sites.
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-rv39-79c4-7459
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-28472
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/fe81b1d7125a014b8280da461f34efbf5f761575
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/releases/tag/v2026.2.2
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-device-identity-check-bypass-in-gateway-websocket-connect-handshake