# CVE-2026-27008: OpenClaw hardened the skill download target directory validation

> An attacker with admin access could write files outside the intended directory during skill installation due to insufficient path validation.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.8 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:L/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 19 Feb 2026
- **Updated:** 20 Feb 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-h7f7-89mm-pqh6

## What is CVE-2026-27008?

CVE-2026-27008 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Openclaw Openclaw, published on 19 Feb 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

OpenClaw is a personal AI assistant. Prior to version 2026.2.15, a bug in `download` skill installation allowed `targetDir` values from skill frontmatter to resolve outside the per-skill tools directory if not strictly validated. In the admin-only `skills.install` flow, this could write files outside the intended install sandbox. Version 2026.2.15 contains a fix for the issue.

Weakness: CWE-73 (External Control of File Name or Path)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-27008?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including openclaw. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `openclaw` | npm | All versions | 2026.2.15 |
| `openclaw` | npm | All versions | 2026.2.15 |

Products: Openclaw Openclaw.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-27008?

Upgrade openclaw to 2026.2.15 or later.

## Is CVE-2026-27008 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-27008 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Openclaw Openclaw

- [CVE-2026-28363](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-28363/): Security feature bypass in OpenClaw (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2026-30741](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-30741/): Code injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2026-33579](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-33579/): OpenClaw < 2026.3.28 - Privilege Escalation via Missing Caller Scope Validation in Device Pair Approval (critical 9.4)
- [CVE-2026-32922](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-32922/): OpenClaw < 2026.3.11 - Privilege Escalation via Unvalidated Scope in device.token.rotate (critical 9.4)
- [CVE-2026-32978](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-32978/): OpenClaw < 2026.3.11 - Approval Bypass via Unrecognized Script Runners (critical 9.4)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-27008 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-27008 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Openclaw Openclaw, published on 19 Feb 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-27008 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- openclaw (npm): affected all versions; fixed in 2026.2.15
- openclaw (npm): affected all versions; fixed in 2026.2.15

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-27008/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-27008/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-27008
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-27008
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-27008

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-27008/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.