CVE-2026-32039: OpenClaw's typed sender-key matching for toolsBySender prevents identity-collision policy bypass

Summary

channels.*.groups.*.toolsBySender could match a privileged sender policy using a colliding mutable identity value (for example senderName or senderUsername) when deployments used untyped keys.

The fix introduces explicit typed sender keys (id:, e164:, username:, name:), keeps legacy untyped keys on a deprecated ID-only path, and adds regression coverage to prevent cross-identifier collisions.

Affected Packages / Versions

• Package: npm openclaw
• Affected versions: <= 2026.2.21-2
• Latest published npm version at triage time (February 22, 2026): 2026.2.21-2
• Patched version (planned next release): 2026.2.22

Impact

This is a sender-authorization bypass in group tool policy matching for deployments that use toolsBySender with untyped keys. Under those conditions, an attacker could inherit stronger tool permissions intended for another sender if they can force an identifier collision.

Fix Commit(s)

• 5547a2275cb69413af3b62c795b93214fe913b57

Release Process Note

patched_versions is pre-set to the planned next release (2026.2.22). Once that npm release is published, this advisory should only need publishing.

OpenClaw thanks @jiseoung for reporting.