In short
- CVE-2026-44997 is a MEDIUM (CVSS 4.3) vulnerability affecting openclaw (openclaw), openclaw.
- Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS): 0.22%, higher than 12.8% of all vulnerabilities.
- Fix: update to 2026.4.22 or later.
| Package | Affected versions | Patched versions |
|---|
| openclaw | < 2026.4.22
| 2026.4.22
|
| openclaw npm | < 2026.4.22
| 2026.4.22
|
Description
Summary
ACP child sessions inherit subagent security envelope constraints.
Affected Packages / Versions
- Package: openclaw (npm)
- Affected versions: <= 2026.4.21
- Fixed version: 2026.4.22
Impact
A restricted subagent spawning an ACP child session could fail to carry forward subagent-only constraints such as depth, child-count limits, control scope, or target-agent restrictions.
Fix
ACP spawn now resolves and persists child subagent envelope fields, enforces maximum depth and active-child caps, and applies the inherited control scope to child ACP sessions.
Fix Commit(s)
- 31160dc069b7cc5d833b39c53736a41ad3befda2
Verification
- The fix commit is contained in the public v2026.4.22 tag.
- [email protected] is published on npm and the compiled package contains the fix.
- Focused regression coverage for this path passed before publication.
OpenClaw thanks @zsxsoft, @qclawer, and @KeenSecurityLab for reporting.
NVD description
OpenClaw before 2026.4.22 contains a security envelope constraint bypass vulnerability allowing restricted subagents to spawn ACP child sessions that fail to inherit depth, child-count limits, control scope, or target-agent restrictions. Attackers can exploit this by spawning child sessions that bypass subagent-only constraints, potentially escalating privileges or accessing restricted resources.
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