CVE-2026-45003
Openclaw ≤ 2026.4.22
Raw vector
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:P/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:XSummary
CVE-2026-45003 is a medium-severity Confused Deputy (CWE-441) vulnerability in Openclaw Openclaw. Its CVSS base score is 4.1 (Medium).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Adversary-in-the-Middle (T1557); ranked at the 1th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to AC-6 (Least Privilege) and CM-5 (Access Restrictions for Change) — see the control section below for these in your framework.
OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2026-29148
Vulnerability Data
OpenClaw before 2026.4.22 allows workspace dotenv files to override connector endpoint hosts for Matrix, Mattermost, IRC, and Synology connectors. Attackers with workspace access can redirect runtime traffic to malicious endpoints by setting endpoint variables in dotenv files.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
Vulnerability permits workspace-level dotenv overrides that redirect legitimate connectors to attacker endpoints, directly enabling adversary-in-the-middle positioning for traffic interception.
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Control response
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Restricts logical access to modify workspace dotenv files that override connector endpoint hosts.
Enforces least privilege so workspace users cannot write endpoint variables into dotenv files.
Defines and enforces approved configuration settings for connector endpoints instead of allowing dotenv overrides.
Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Proper conveyance and verification of original identity assertions directly prevents loss of request source when forwarding.
Enforcing least-privilege authorizations on forwarded requests reduces confused-deputy abuse even if source identity is lost.
Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Access-control rules can limit which upstream identities may cause the product to act on their behalf, reducing confused-deputy risk.
Proper identity management ensures the original requester identity is preserved and validated before the product forwards requests.
Explicit access-rights assignment can restrict the product’s ability to act as an unintended proxy for external actors.
Privileged-access controls limit the rights the product may exercise on behalf of upstream callers, mitigating confused-deputy abuse.
Network-security controls can enforce source validation and prevent the product from blindly proxying traffic to external actors.
Secure-SDLC practices include design reviews that detect and eliminate confused-deputy proxy patterns before deployment.