Symlink Traversal Vulnerability in OpenClaw: Risk of File Overwrite

openclaw Updated 04 Mar 2026

Summary

03/03/2026

Disclosed on

HIGH

Severity

Yes i

Fix available

High

Severity

7.7

CVSS Score

GHSA-cfvj-7rx7-fc7c: OpenClaw: stageSandboxMedia destination symlink traversal can overwrite files outside sandbox workspace. Affects openclaw versions < 2026.3.2. Fixed in 2026.3.2. How to fix ↓

Free scan

Check if this vulnerability affects your application

Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.

Check my app free

No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds

Upload your dependency manifest or SBOM

Drag & drop your file here or Browse

Java Javascript PHP Python Go Rust Ruby Dart C/C++ Elixir CycloneDX SPDX

Upload a supported dependency manifest or SBOM. No installation or source-code access required.

See supported files and SBOM formats

SBOM sbom.json · bom.json · bom.xml · *.spdx.json · *.cdx.json · *.cdx.xml

Java pom.xml · gradle.lockfile · buildscript-gradle.lockfile

Javascript package-lock.json · yarn.lock · pnpm-lock.yaml

PHP composer.lock

Python poetry.lock · requirements.txt · Pipfile.lock

Go go.mod

Rust Cargo.lock

Ruby Gemfile.lock

Dart pubspec.lock

C/C++ conan.lock

Elixir mix.lock

Enter your work email to receive your report link.

Verify your email to view the full report and start 30 days of continuous monitoring. No credit card required.

Background

OpenClaw is an npm package designed for managing media staging within a sandbox environment. It allows users to handle inbound media files securely. However, it has a critical vulnerability that permits symlink traversal, potentially leading to unauthorized file overwrites outside the designated sandbox workspace.

Vulnerability Detail

The vulnerability arises from the stageSandboxMedia function, which fails to enforce proper destination boundary checks when writing files. If a symlink exists in the destination path, the function can overwrite files outside the intended sandbox workspace. This could lead to significant security risks, including data loss or unauthorized access to sensitive files. The issue is classified under CWE-59, which pertains to symbolic link traversal vulnerabilities.

How To Fix

Latest published version: 2026.10.6 as of 22 Oct 2026

npm install openclaw@2026.10.6

Upgrading to it may include breaking changes; the version below is the minimum fixed release for this vulnerability.

If you need the minimum change

2026.3.2

This is the first release that contains the fix.

npm install openclaw@2026.3.2

Tip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →

Workaround

Currently, there are no specific workarounds mentioned for this vulnerability. The best course of action is to update to the patched version as soon as possible.

Conclusion

The symlink traversal vulnerability in OpenClaw poses a significant risk of file overwrites outside the sandbox workspace. It is essential to update to the patched version 2026.3.2 or later to mitigate this risk. Users are encouraged to utilize tools like Vulert to monitor their applications for vulnerabilities effectively.

See every vulnerability recorded for openclaw →