OpenClaw (npm package openclaw) before 2026.8.1 fails to revoke memory tool access when an operator hot-disables memory configuration. Existing memory_search and memory_get tool instances retain the enabled configuration captured at creation time because the execution-time resolver treats explicit disablement like an unavailable configuration snapshot and restores the stale authority. As a result, during an already-running agent turn the model can continue searching and reading durable memory after the operator revoked that access, for the remainder of that run. Exploitation requires memory to be disabled while a previously created memory tool remains active. The issue is fixed in 2026.8.1.
Weakness
The product performs an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action, but it does not correctly perform the check.
Potential Mitigations
- Divide the product into anonymous, normal, privileged, and administrative areas. Reduce the attack surface by carefully mapping roles with data and functionality. Use role-based access control (RBAC) [REF-229] to enforce the roles at the appropriate boundaries.
- Note that this approach may not protect against horizontal authorization, i.e., it will not protect a user from attacking others with the same role.
- Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid.
- For example, consider using authorization frameworks such as the JAAS Authorization Framework [REF-233] and the OWASP ESAPI Access Control feature [REF-45].
- For web applications, make sure that the access control mechanism is enforced correctly at the server side on every page. Users should not be able to access any unauthorized functionality or information by simply requesting direct access to that page.
- One way to do this is to ensure that all pages containing sensitive information are not cached, and that all such pages restrict access to requests that are accompanied by an active and authenticated session token associated with a user who has the required permissions to access that page.