CVE-2026-28462: Openclaw Path Traversal Vulnerability
HIGHCVE-2026-28462 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.5) path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')) affecting Openclaw libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves openclaw has a path traversal in browser trace/download output paths may allow arbitrary file writes. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2026.2.13.
CVE-2026-28462 at a Glance
Security Impact
CVSS: 7.5
The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N).
How to Fix CVE-2026-28462
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.
npm install openclaw@2026.2.13Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:
npm ls openclawHow to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2026-28462, inspect your project dependencies using npm:
npm ls openclawAnalyze 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 2026.2.13), 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-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal'), where the product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory. 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
CVE-2026-28462 Affected Openclaw Versions
1 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
openclaw
|
npm |
< 2026.2.13
|
2026.2.13
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2026-28462?
Which Openclaw versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2026-28462?
Is openclaw affected?
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-28462?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-28462?
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2026-28462?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-gq9c-wg68-gwj2",
"modified" : "2026-03-06T01:04:42Z",
"published" : "2026-02-18T17:38:39Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-28462" ],
"summary" : "OpenClaw has a path traversal in browser trace/download output paths may allow arbitrary file writes",
"details" : "## Summary\n\n OpenClaw’s browser control API accepted user-supplied output paths for trace/download files without consistently\n constraining writes to OpenClaw-managed temporary directories.\n\n ## Impact\n\n If an attacker can access the browser control API, they could attempt to write trace/download output files outside\n intended temp roots, depending on process filesystem permissions.\n\n ## Affected versions\n\n `openclaw` `< 2026.2.13`\n\n ## Fixed versions\n\n `openclaw` `>= 2026.2.13`\n\n ## Remediation\n\n Upgrade to `2026.2.13` or later.\n\n ## What changed\n\n The fix constrains output paths for:\n\n - `POST /trace/stop`\n - `POST /wait/download`\n - `POST /download`\n\n All three now enforce OpenClaw temp-root boundaries and reject traversal/escape paths.\n\n ## Credits\n\n Thanks to Adnan Jakati (@jackhax) of Praetorian for responsible disclosure.\n\n Fix shipped in PR #15652 and merged to `main` on February 13, 2026 (`7f0489e4731c8d965d78d6eac4a60312e46a9426`).\n\n---\n\nFix commit 7f0489e4731c8d965d78d6eac4a60312e46a9426 confirmed on main and in v2026.2.14. Upgrade to `openclaw >= 2026.2.13`.",
"severity" : [ {
"type" : "CVSS_V3",
"score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N"
}, {
"type" : "CVSS_V4",
"score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
} ],
"affected" : [ {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "npm",
"name" : "openclaw"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0"
}, {
"fixed" : "2026.2.13"
} ]
} ]
} ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-gq9c-wg68-gwj2"
}, {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-28462"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/pull/15652"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/7f0489e4731c8d965d78d6eac4a60312e46a9426"
}, {
"type" : "PACKAGE",
"url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-path-traversal-in-trace-and-download-output-paths"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-22" ],
"severity" : "HIGH",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2026-02-18T17:38:39Z",
"nvd_published_at" : "2026-03-05T22:16:18Z"
}
}