---
id: CVE-2026-33579
title: >-
  OpenClaw before 2026.3.28 contains a privilege escalation vulnerability in the
  /pair approve command path that fails to forward caller scopes into the core
  approval check
summary: >-
  OpenClaw before 2026.3.28 contains a privilege escalation vulnerability in the
  /pair approve command path that fails to forward caller scopes into the core
  approval check. A caller with pairing privileges but without admin privileges
  can…
severity: critical
cvss: 9.9
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H'
cwe:
  - CWE-863
vendor: openclaw
product: openclaw
affected:
  - openclaw < 2026.3.28
patched:
  - openclaw 2026.3.28
published: '2026-03-31'
updated: '2026-07-24'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-33579'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/e403decb6e20091b5402780a7ccd2085f98aa3cd
    label: disclosure@vulncheck.com
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-hc5h-pmr3-3497
    label: disclosure@vulncheck.com
  - url: >-
      https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-privilege-escalation-via-missing-caller-scope-validation-in-device-pair-approval
    label: disclosure@vulncheck.com
tags:
  - nvd
  - exploit-available
  - cve.org
epss: 0.00512
epssPercentile: 0.41084
ingestedAt: '2026-07-24T21:39:13.168Z'
exploits:
  github: 1
  githubRepos:
    - 'https://github.com/atalovesyou/openclaw-security-checker'
  checkedAt: '2026-09-25T08:20:55.066Z'
exploitAvailable: true
ssvc:
  exploitation: none
  automatable: 'no'
  technicalImpact: total
  timestamp: '2026-04-01T03:55:39.629735Z'
---

## Overview

OpenClaw before 2026.3.28 contains a privilege escalation vulnerability in the /pair approve command path that fails to forward caller scopes into the core approval check. A caller with pairing privileges but without admin privileges can approve pending device requests asking for broader scopes including admin access by exploiting the missing scope validation in extensions/device-pair/index.ts and src/infra/device-pairing.ts.

## Affected

- `openclaw < 2026.3.28`

## Remediation

Upgrade past the affected range:

- `openclaw 2026.3.28`