GHSA-5XFQ-5MR7-426Q

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-02-18 00:57 – Updated: 2026-03-06 01:04
VLAI?
Summary
OpenClaw's unsanitized session ID enables path traversal in transcript file operations
Details

Description

OpenClaw versions <= 2026.2.9 construct transcript file paths using an unsanitized sessionId and also accept sessionFile paths without enforcing that they stay within the agent sessions directory.

A crafted sessionId and/or sessionFile (example: ../../etc/passwd) can cause path traversal when the gateway performs transcript file read/write operations.

Preconditions: an attacker must be able to authenticate to the gateway (gateway token/password). By default the gateway binds to loopback (local-only); configurations that expose the gateway widen the attack surface.

Affected Packages / Versions

  • Package: openclaw (npm)
  • Affected: <= 2026.2.9
  • Fixed: >= 2026.2.12

Fix

Fixed by validating session IDs (rejecting path separators / traversal sequences) and enforcing sessions-directory containment for session transcript file operations.

Fix Commit(s)

  • 4199f9889f0c307b77096a229b9e085b8d856c26

Additional Hardening

  • cab0abf52ac91e12ea7a0cf04fff315cf0c94d64

Mitigation

Upgrade to openclaw >= 2026.2.12.

Thanks @akhmittra for reporting.

Severity ?
5.5 (Medium)
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
8.4 (High)
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
Show details on source website
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{
  "affected": [
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "npm",
        "name": "openclaw"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "2026.2.12"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2026-28482"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-22"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": true,
    "github_reviewed_at": "2026-02-18T00:57:30Z",
    "nvd_published_at": "2026-03-05T22:16:23Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "## Description\n\nOpenClaw versions **\u003c= 2026.2.9** construct transcript file paths using an unsanitized `sessionId` and also accept `sessionFile` paths without enforcing that they stay within the agent sessions directory.\n\nA crafted `sessionId` and/or `sessionFile` (example: `../../etc/passwd`) can cause path traversal when the gateway performs transcript file read/write operations.\n\n**Preconditions:** an attacker must be able to authenticate to the gateway (gateway token/password). By default the gateway binds to `loopback` (local-only); configurations that expose the gateway widen the attack surface.\n\n## Affected Packages / Versions\n\n- Package: `openclaw` (npm)\n- Affected: `\u003c= 2026.2.9`\n- Fixed: `\u003e= 2026.2.12`\n\n## Fix\n\nFixed by validating session IDs (rejecting path separators / traversal sequences) and enforcing sessions-directory containment for session transcript file operations.\n\n### Fix Commit(s)\n\n- `4199f9889f0c307b77096a229b9e085b8d856c26`\n\n### Additional Hardening\n\n- `cab0abf52ac91e12ea7a0cf04fff315cf0c94d64`\n\n## Mitigation\n\nUpgrade to `openclaw \u003e= 2026.2.12`.\n\nThanks @akhmittra for reporting.",
  "id": "GHSA-5xfq-5mr7-426q",
  "modified": "2026-03-06T01:04:31Z",
  "published": "2026-02-18T00:57:30Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-5xfq-5mr7-426q"
    },
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-28482"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/4199f9889f0c307b77096a229b9e085b8d856c26"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/cab0abf52ac91e12ea7a0cf04fff315cf0c94d64"
    },
    {
      "type": "PACKAGE",
      "url": "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/releases/tag/v2026.2.12"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-path-traversal-via-unsanitized-sessionid-and-sessionfile-parameters"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    },
    {
      "score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N",
      "type": "CVSS_V4"
    }
  ],
  "summary": "OpenClaw\u0027s unsanitized session ID enables path traversal in transcript file operations"
}


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