GHSA-jxrq-8fm4-9p58 OpenClaw: Zip extraction symlink traversal could write outside destination
An attacker can write files outside the intended directory via symlink traversal during ZIP extraction in the OpenClaw library.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- A user has to click or open something
- Fix
- Available
What is GHSA-jxrq-8fm4-9p58?
GHSA-jxrq-8fm4-9p58 is a path traversal vulnerability in openclaw, published on 3 Mar 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Official description
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.
Which versions are affected by GHSA-jxrq-8fm4-9p58?
2 open source packages ship an affected version, including openclaw.
| Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
openclaw npm | All versions | 2026.2.22 |
openclaw npm | All versions | 2026.2.22 |
How do I fix GHSA-jxrq-8fm4-9p58?
Upgrade openclaw to 2026.2.22 or later.
Upgrade, and resolve every user-supplied path against an allowed base folder before opening it. More about Path traversal.
Is GHSA-jxrq-8fm4-9p58 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of GHSA-jxrq-8fm4-9p58 in the wild and no public exploit code.