CVE-2026-32898: OpenClaw ACP client has permission auto-approval bypass via untrusted tool metadata

Vulnerability Summary

The OpenClaw ACP client could auto-approve tool calls based on untrusted metadata and permissive name heuristics. A malicious or compromised ACP tool invocation could bypass expected interactive approval prompts for read-class operations.

Affected Packages / Versions

• Package: npm openclaw
• Affected published versions: <= 2026.2.22-2 (latest published as of February 24, 2026 is 2026.2.22-2)
• Patched in code on main: 2026.2.23 (released)

Technical Details

• Permission classification trusted incoming toolCall.kind and heuristic name matching.
• Non-core read-like names and spoofed kind metadata could reach auto-approve paths.
• read operations were not scoped strongly enough to cwd in all metadata/title forms.

Fix

• Require trusted core tool IDs for auto-approval and ignore untrusted toolCall.kind as an authorization source.
• Scope read auto-approval to cwd-resolved paths.
• Add stricter tool-name validation and regression coverage for spoofed kind and non-core read-like names.

Affected Functions

• resolvePermissionRequest
• resolveToolNameForPermission
• shouldAutoApproveToolCall

Fix Commit(s)

• 12cc754332f9a7c92e158ce7644aa22df79c0904
• 63dcd28ae0be2de1c75af09cc81841cebeec068f

Found using MCPwner

Thanks @nedlir for reporting.