GitHub Advisoryadvisory · npm
GHSA-hff7-ccv5-52f8 OpenClaw's gateway tokenless Tailscale auth applied to HTTP routes
MEDIUM
Official page ↗
- Aliases
- CVE-2026-32045
- Ecosystem
- npm
- Packages
- openclaw
- Severity
- Moderate
- 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
- Weaknesses
- CWE-290
- Reviewed
- 2026-03-03
Affected packages
• npm openclaw: < 2026.2.21 → fixed in 2026.2.21
Description
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.
Related
Alias · CVE (1)
- CVE-2026-32045 OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.21 incorrectly apply tokenless Tailscale header authentication to HTTP gateway routes, allowing bypass of… vulnerability
Weakness · CWE (1)
- CWE-290 Authentication Bypass by Spoofing weakness
References
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-hff7-ccv5-52f8 web
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-32045 advisory
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/356d61aacfa5b0f1d5830716ec59d70682a3e7b8 web
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw package
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-authentication-bypass-in-http-gateway-routes-via-tokenless-tailscale-auth web