Critical RCE Flaw in OpenClaw AI Assistant Enables One-Click Hijacking

OpenClaw AI Assistant Vulnerable to One-Click Remote Code Execution Attacks

Security researchers have identified a critical vulnerability in OpenClaw (also known as Moltbot and Clawdbot), an open-source AI assistant framework, that enables one-click remote code execution (RCE) attacks. The flaw, which has not yet been assigned a CVE identifier, allows threat actors to hijack vulnerable instances with minimal user interaction.

Technical Details of the Vulnerability

While specific technical details remain undisclosed to prevent exploitation, the vulnerability is classified as a one-click RCE flaw. This suggests that attackers could trigger arbitrary code execution by luring a user into clicking a malicious link or interacting with a specially crafted payload. OpenClaw’s architecture, which integrates AI-driven automation and scripting capabilities, may contribute to the severity of this issue.

The lack of a CVE ID at the time of reporting indicates that the vulnerability is either newly discovered or still under analysis by the vendor or security community. Security professionals should monitor updates from OpenClaw’s maintainers for patches and mitigation guidance.

Potential Impact and Exploitation Risks

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could have severe consequences, including:

• Unauthorized system access via remote code execution.
• Data exfiltration from compromised AI assistant instances.
• Lateral movement within networks if OpenClaw is deployed in enterprise environments.
• Malware deployment or further compromise of connected systems.

Given the increasing adoption of AI-driven automation tools in both consumer and enterprise settings, this flaw poses a significant risk to organizations relying on OpenClaw for workflow automation, chatbot integration, or other AI-assisted tasks.

Recommendations for Security Teams

Until an official patch is released, security professionals are advised to:

1. Isolate OpenClaw instances from critical network segments to limit potential lateral movement.
2. Monitor for suspicious activity related to OpenClaw deployments, including unusual outbound connections or unauthorized script execution.
3. Implement strict input validation if custom modifications have been made to OpenClaw’s codebase.
4. Stay informed via SecurityWeek and OpenClaw’s official channels for updates on patches or workarounds.
5. Consider temporary alternatives to OpenClaw if the risk of exploitation is deemed unacceptable for high-security environments.

SecurityWeek will provide further updates as more details about the vulnerability and remediation steps become available.