GHSA-jxrq-8fm4-9p58: OpenClaw Zip Extraction Symlink Traversal Could Vulnerability

HIGH
Share
CWE-59
Published
Advisory Summary

GHSA-jxrq-8fm4-9p58 is a HIGH zip extraction symlink traversal could vulnerability (CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')) affecting OpenClaw libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves zip extraction symlink traversal could write outside destination. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2026.2.22.

GHSA-jxrq-8fm4-9p58 at a Glance

CVE Identifier N/A
GHSA Identifier GHSA-jxrq-8fm4-9p58
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
Affected Product OpenClaw
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix GHSA-jxrq-8fm4-9p58

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected OpenClaw dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

openclaw fixed: 2026.2.22 
npm install openclaw@2026.2.22
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

npm ls openclaw

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by GHSA-jxrq-8fm4-9p58, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls openclaw

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of OpenClaw in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2026.2.22), your application is affected.

Note: The npm ls openclaw command inspects dependencies declared in your package.json and lockfile; it does not perform automated runtime dynamic scanning.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following'), where the product attempts to access a file based on the filename, but it does not properly prevent that filename from identifying a link or shortcut that resolves to an unintended resource. In OpenClaw, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

### Summary A path confinement bypass in OpenClaw ZIP extraction allowed writes outside the intended destination when a pre-existing symlink was present under the extraction root. ### Affected Packages / Versions - Package: `openclaw` (npm) - Latest published npm version at triage time: `2026.2.21-2` - Affected versions: `<= 2026.2.21-2` - Planned patched version for next release: `2026.2.22` ### Technical Details The vulnerable path was in `src/infra/archive.ts` ZIP extraction logic. Output-path checks were lexical, but writes could still traverse an existing symlink in destination path segments. The fix blocks this by: - rejecting symlink traversal in destination path segments, - validating resolved destination paths remain inside the extraction root, - using no-follow file opens for ZIP output writes where supported, - adding a regression test for pre-seeded destination symlink traversal. ### Impact - Type: Arbitrary file write outside extraction root via symlink traversal during ZIP extraction. - Preconditions: attacker-controlled archive extraction plus pre-existing symlink in destination path. ### Fix Commit(s) - 4b226b74f5fd3b106a83a6347fd404172e2fd246 ### Release Process Note Patched version is pre-set to the planned next release (`2026.2.22`). Once npm release `2026.2.22` is published, the advisory can be published without further field edits. OpenClaw thanks @tdjackey for reporting.

GHSA-jxrq-8fm4-9p58 Affected OpenClaw Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2026.2.22
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
openclaw
npm/openclaw
npm
< 2026.2.22
2026.2.22

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-jxrq-8fm4-9p58
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/4b226b74f5fd3b106a83a6347fd404172e2fd246
OpenClaw Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw

Frequently Asked Questions

What is GHSA-jxrq-8fm4-9p58?
GHSA-jxrq-8fm4-9p58 is a security vulnerability in OpenClaw involving Zip extraction symlink traversal could write outside destination under CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following').
Which OpenClaw versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2026.2.22 across affected packages: openclaw.
What version fixes GHSA-jxrq-8fm4-9p58?
Upgrading to 2026.2.22 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is openclaw affected?
Yes, openclaw is affected in releases prior to 2026.2.22. Upgrade your dependency to 2026.2.22 or later.
What CWE is associated with GHSA-jxrq-8fm4-9p58?
GHSA-jxrq-8fm4-9p58 is classified under CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following') (The product attempts to access a file based on the filename, but it does not properly prevent that filename from identifying a link or shortcut that resolves to an unintended resource.).
How can I check npm dependencies for GHSA-jxrq-8fm4-9p58?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls openclaw'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-jxrq-8fm4-9p58",
  "modified" : "2026-03-03T23:09:31Z",
  "published" : "2026-03-03T23:09:31Z",
  "aliases" : [ ],
  "summary" : "OpenClaw: Zip extraction symlink traversal could write outside destination",
  "details" : "### Summary\nA path confinement bypass in OpenClaw ZIP extraction allowed writes outside the intended destination when a pre-existing symlink was present under the extraction root.\n\n### Affected Packages / Versions\n- Package: `openclaw` (npm)\n- Latest published npm version at triage time: `2026.2.21-2`\n- Affected versions: `<= 2026.2.21-2`\n- Planned patched version for next release: `2026.2.22`\n\n### Technical Details\nThe vulnerable path was in `src/infra/archive.ts` ZIP extraction logic. Output-path checks were lexical, but writes could still traverse an existing symlink in destination path segments.\n\nThe fix blocks this by:\n- rejecting symlink traversal in destination path segments,\n- validating resolved destination paths remain inside the extraction root,\n- using no-follow file opens for ZIP output writes where supported,\n- adding a regression test for pre-seeded destination symlink traversal.\n\n### Impact\n- Type: Arbitrary file write outside extraction root via symlink traversal during ZIP extraction.\n- Preconditions: attacker-controlled archive extraction plus pre-existing symlink in destination path.\n\n### Fix Commit(s)\n- 4b226b74f5fd3b106a83a6347fd404172e2fd246\n\n### Release Process Note\nPatched version is pre-set to the planned next release (`2026.2.22`).\nOnce npm release `2026.2.22` is published, the advisory can be published without further field edits.\n\nOpenClaw thanks @tdjackey for reporting.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "openclaw"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2026.2.22"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-jxrq-8fm4-9p58"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/4b226b74f5fd3b106a83a6347fd404172e2fd246"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-59" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-03-03T23:09:31Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}