GHSA-xmv6-r34m-62p4: OpenClaw Sandbox Media Fallback Tmp Symlink Vulnerability

HIGH
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CWE-59 CWE-22
Published
Advisory Summary

GHSA-xmv6-r34m-62p4 is a HIGH sandbox media fallback tmp symlink vulnerability (CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')) affecting OpenClaw libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves sandbox media fallback tmp symlink alias bypass allows host file reads outside sandboxroot. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2026.2.25.

GHSA-xmv6-r34m-62p4 at a Glance

CVE Identifier N/A
GHSA Identifier GHSA-xmv6-r34m-62p4
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-xmv6-r34m-62p4

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: 2026.2.25 
npm install openclaw@2026.2.25
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-xmv6-r34m-62p4, 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 2026.2.25), 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 sandbox path validation bypass in `openclaw` allows host file reads outside `sandboxRoot` via the media path fallback tmp flow when the fallback tmp root is a symlink alias. ### Affected Packages / Versions - Package: `npm openclaw` - Affected versions: `<= 2026.2.24` - Latest published npm version at triage time (February 26, 2026): `2026.2.24` - Patched version : `2026.2.25` ### Details When `/tmp/openclaw` is unavailable or unsafe, `resolvePreferredOpenClawTmpDir()` in `src/infra/tmp-openclaw-dir.ts` fell back to `os.tmpdir()/openclaw-<uid>` without verifying that fallback path was a trusted non-symlink directory. `resolveSandboxedMediaSource()` (`src/agents/sandbox-paths.ts`) allows absolute tmp media paths under the OpenClaw tmp root using lexical containment and alias checks. If the fallback tmp root is a symlink alias (for example to `/`), inputs like `$TMPDIR/openclaw-<uid>/etc/passwd` can pass validation and resolve to host files outside `sandboxRoot`. ### Impact This can break sandbox media path confinement and permit unauthorized host file reads (confidentiality impact). ### Reproduction (high level) 1. Force resolver fallback (make `/tmp/openclaw` unavailable/invalid). 2. Make fallback root (`$TMPDIR/openclaw-<uid>`) a symlink alias to `/`. 3. Submit media path under fallback root (for example `$TMPDIR/openclaw-<uid>/etc/passwd`). 4. Observe accepted path and read outside `sandboxRoot`. ### Fix Commit(s) - `496a76c03ba85e15ea715e5a583e498ae04d36e3` ### Release Process Note Patched version is pre-set to release `2026.2.25`; once npm publish for `2026.2.25` is complete, this advisory can be published without further metadata edits. OpenClaw thanks @tdjackey for reporting.

GHSA-xmv6-r34m-62p4 Affected OpenClaw Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2026.2.25
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
openclaw
npm/openclaw
npm
< 2026.2.25
2026.2.25

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-xmv6-r34m-62p4
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/496a76c03ba85e15ea715e5a583e498ae04d36e3
OpenClaw Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw

Frequently Asked Questions

What is GHSA-xmv6-r34m-62p4?
GHSA-xmv6-r34m-62p4 is a security vulnerability in OpenClaw involving Sandbox media fallback tmp symlink alias bypass allows host file reads outside sandboxRoot under CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following').
Which OpenClaw versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2026.2.25 across affected packages: openclaw.
What version fixes GHSA-xmv6-r34m-62p4?
Upgrading to 2026.2.25 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is openclaw affected?
Yes, openclaw is affected in releases prior to 2026.2.25. Upgrade your dependency to 2026.2.25 or later.
What CWE is associated with GHSA-xmv6-r34m-62p4?
GHSA-xmv6-r34m-62p4 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-xmv6-r34m-62p4?
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-xmv6-r34m-62p4",
  "modified" : "2026-03-03T22:08:54Z",
  "published" : "2026-03-03T22:08:54Z",
  "aliases" : [ ],
  "summary" : "OpenClaw: Sandbox media fallback tmp symlink alias bypass allows host file reads outside sandboxRoot",
  "details" : "### Summary\nA sandbox path validation bypass in `openclaw` allows host file reads outside `sandboxRoot` via the media path fallback tmp flow when the fallback tmp root is a symlink alias.\n\n### Affected Packages / Versions\n- Package: `npm openclaw`\n- Affected versions: `<= 2026.2.24`\n- Latest published npm version at triage time (February 26, 2026): `2026.2.24`\n- Patched version : `2026.2.25`\n\n### Details\nWhen `/tmp/openclaw` is unavailable or unsafe, `resolvePreferredOpenClawTmpDir()` in `src/infra/tmp-openclaw-dir.ts` fell back to `os.tmpdir()/openclaw-<uid>` without verifying that fallback path was a trusted non-symlink directory.\n\n`resolveSandboxedMediaSource()` (`src/agents/sandbox-paths.ts`) allows absolute tmp media paths under the OpenClaw tmp root using lexical containment and alias checks. If the fallback tmp root is a symlink alias (for example to `/`), inputs like `$TMPDIR/openclaw-<uid>/etc/passwd` can pass validation and resolve to host files outside `sandboxRoot`.\n\n### Impact\nThis can break sandbox media path confinement and permit unauthorized host file reads (confidentiality impact).\n\n### Reproduction (high level)\n1. Force resolver fallback (make `/tmp/openclaw` unavailable/invalid).\n2. Make fallback root (`$TMPDIR/openclaw-<uid>`) a symlink alias to `/`.\n3. Submit media path under fallback root (for example `$TMPDIR/openclaw-<uid>/etc/passwd`).\n4. Observe accepted path and read outside `sandboxRoot`.\n\n### Fix Commit(s)\n- `496a76c03ba85e15ea715e5a583e498ae04d36e3`\n\n### Release Process Note\nPatched version is pre-set to release `2026.2.25`; once npm publish for `2026.2.25` is complete, this advisory can be published without further metadata edits.\n\nOpenClaw thanks @tdjackey for reporting.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:N/SC:H/SI:H/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "openclaw"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2026.2.25"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 2026.2.24"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-xmv6-r34m-62p4"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/496a76c03ba85e15ea715e5a583e498ae04d36e3"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-22", "CWE-59" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-03-03T22:08:54Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}