GHSA-9f72-qcpw-2hxc OpenClaw: Native prompt image auto-load did not honor tools.fs.workspaceOnly in sandboxed runs

Not scored Published

Attackers can read files outside the workspace in sandboxed runs if workspaceOnly is enabled, bypassing path restrictions for image loading.

Exploited in the wild
Not known
Login needed
Not needed
Attackable
Not stated
Victim action needed
Not needed
Fix
Available

What is GHSA-9f72-qcpw-2hxc?

GHSA-9f72-qcpw-2hxc is a path traversal vulnerability in openclaw, published on 3 Mar 2026.

Official description

Summary

In sandboxed runs, native prompt image auto-load did not honor tools.fs.workspaceOnly=true.

This optional hardening setting is not enabled by default. When operators enabled it, prompt text could still reference mounted out-of-workspace image paths (for example /agent/secret.png) and load those image bytes for vision-capable model input.

Affected Packages / Versions

  • Package: openclaw (npm)
  • Latest published npm version at triage time: 2026.2.23
  • Vulnerable version range: <= 2026.2.23
  • Patched version (planned next release): 2026.2.24

Conditions Required

This issue required all of the following:

  • sandbox mode enabled,
  • tools.fs.workspaceOnly=true configured,
  • an out-of-workspace mount path reachable from the sandbox (for example /agent),
  • vision-capable model path active for native prompt image loading.

Technical Details

Native prompt image ingestion (detectAndLoadPromptImages / loadImageFromRef) resolved and read sandbox paths but did not apply the same workspace-root assertion used by file tools when tools.fs.workspaceOnly was set.

Fix Commit(s)

  • 370d115549c0dadace0902775eea0d5094aedfdc

Verification

  • pnpm check
  • pnpm exec vitest run --config vitest.gateway.config.ts
  • pnpm test:fast

Release Process Note

patched_versions is pre-set to the planned next release (2026.2.24) so once npm release is available, this advisory only needs publish action.

OpenClaw thanks @tdjackey for reporting.

Publication Update (2026-02-25)

[email protected] is published on npm and contains the fix commit(s) listed above. This advisory now marks >= 2026.2.24 as patched.

Which versions are affected by GHSA-9f72-qcpw-2hxc?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including openclaw.

PackageAffectedFixed in
openclaw npmAll versions2026.2.24
openclaw npmAll versions2026.2.24

How do I fix GHSA-9f72-qcpw-2hxc?

Upgrade openclaw to 2026.2.24 or later.

Upgrade, and resolve every user-supplied path against an allowed base folder before opening it. More about Path traversal.

Is GHSA-9f72-qcpw-2hxc being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of GHSA-9f72-qcpw-2hxc in the wild and no public exploit code.

Sources

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