{"id":"CVE-2026-32020","aliases":["EUVD-2026-13288","GHSA-5ghc-98wh-gwwf"],"status":"published","title":"OpenClaw \u003c 2026.2.22 - Arbitrary File Read via Symlink Following in Static File Handler","description":"OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.22 contain a path traversal vulnerability in the static file handler that follows symbolic links, allowing out-of-root file reads. Attackers can place symlinks under the Control UI root directory to bypass directory confinement checks and read arbitrary files outside the intended root.","severity":{"version":"4.0","score":4.8,"vector":"CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N","level":"medium","assessor":"cna","from":"cve"},"epss":{"day":"2026-11-11","score":0.00139,"percentile":0.03309,"model":"v2026.06.15"},"facts":{"in_kev":false,"known_exploited":false,"public_exploit":false,"fix_available":true},"cwes":["CWE-22","CWE-59"],"published":"2026-03-02T22:19:03Z","modified":"2026-10-28T02:31:08Z","fixes":[{"ecosystem":"npm","package":"openclaw","fixed_in":["2026.2.22"],"sources":["ghsa","osv"]}],"affected":[{"source":"ghsa","ecosystem":"npm","package":"openclaw","ranges":[{"type":"ECOSYSTEM","events":[{"introduced":"0"},{"fixed":"2026.2.22"}]}]},{"source":"osv","ecosystem":"npm","package":"openclaw","ranges":[{"type":"SEMVER","events":[{"introduced":"0"},{"fixed":"2026.2.22"}]}]}],"products":[{"vendor":"openclaw","product":"openclaw"}],"references":[{"url":"https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-5ghc-98wh-gwwf","tags":["vendor-advisory","Vendor Advisory","advisory","web"]},{"url":"https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/7c500ff6236fa087ec1ec88696ca9f6881e90dc5","tags":["patch","Patch","fix","web"]},{"url":"https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-arbitrary-file-read-via-symlink-following-in-static-file-handler","tags":["third-party-advisory","Third Party Advisory","advisory"]},{"url":"https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-5ghc-98wh-gwwf"},{"url":"https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2026/32xxx/CVE-2026-32020.json","tags":["advisory"]},{"url":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-32020","tags":["advisory"]},{"url":"https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw","tags":["package"]}],"sources":{"cve":[{"id":"CVE-2026-32020","title":"OpenClaw \u003c 2026.2.22 - Arbitrary File Read via Symlink Following in Static File Handler","description":"OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.22 contain a path traversal vulnerability in the static file handler that follows symbolic links, allowing out-of-root file reads. Attackers can place symlinks under the Control UI root directory to bypass directory confinement checks and read arbitrary files outside the intended root.","status":"published","published":"2026-03-19T22:06:57.118Z","modified":"2026-06-23T16:14:40.036Z","cvss":[{"version":"4.0","score":4.8,"vector":"CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N","level":"medium","assessor":"cna"},{"version":"3.1","score":3.3,"vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N","level":"low","assessor":"cna"}],"cwes":["CWE-59"],"updated_at":"2026-11-02T14:19:57.47301Z"}],"euvd":[{"id":"EUVD-2026-13288","description":"OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.22 contain a path traversal vulnerability in the static file handler that follows symbolic links, allowing out-of-root file reads. Attackers can place symlinks under the Control UI root directory to bypass directory confinement checks and read arbitrary files outside the intended root.","status":"published","published":"2026-03-19T22:06:57Z","modified":"2026-06-23T16:14:40Z","cvss":[{"version":"4.0","score":4.8,"vector":"CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N","level":"medium"}],"updated_at":"2026-11-02T18:20:32.273921Z"}],"ghsa":[{"id":"GHSA-5ghc-98wh-gwwf","title":"OpenClaw's Control UI Static File Handler Follows Symlinks and Allows Out-of-Root File Read","description":"### Summary\nThe Control UI static file handler previously validated asset paths lexically and then served files with APIs that follow symbolic links. A symlink placed under the Control UI root could cause out-of-root file reads.\n\n### Affected Packages / Versions\n- Package: `openclaw` (npm)\n- Latest published version observed: `2026.2.21-2`\n- Affected versions: `\u003c=2026.2.21-2`\n- Planned fixed release version: `2026.2.22`\n\n### Technical Details\nThe vulnerable flow was in `src/gateway/control-ui.ts`, where `path.join(...)` + string-prefix checks were followed by file reads that resolved symlinks. This allowed directory-confinement bypasses when symlinks existed inside the Control UI root.\n\nThe fix now enforces realpath containment and verifies file identity before serving Control UI assets and SPA fallback `index.html`.\n\n### Impact\n- Vulnerability type: path traversal / external file exposure via symlink following.\n- Primary impact: confidentiality (out-of-root file read).\n- Severity guidance: low in supported trusted-operator deployments; can be higher in unsupported shared-writable setups.\n\n### Fix Commit(s)\n- `7c500ff6236fa087ec1ec88696ca9f6881e90dc5`\n\n### Release Process Note\n`patched_versions` is pre-set to the planned next release (`2026.2.22`). After npm release is available, publish the advisory.\n\nOpenClaw thanks @tdjackey for reporting.","status":"published","published":"2026-03-02T22:19:03Z","modified":"2026-03-19T22:23:10Z","cvss":[{"version":"3.1","score":3.3,"vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N","level":"low"}],"cwes":["CWE-22"],"updated_at":"2026-11-02T14:39:38.524712Z"}],"nvd":[{"id":"CVE-2026-32020","description":"OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.22 contain a path traversal vulnerability in the static file handler that follows symbolic links, allowing out-of-root file reads. Attackers can place symlinks under the Control UI root directory to bypass directory confinement checks and read arbitrary files outside the intended root.","status":"published","published":"2026-03-19T22:16:35.897Z","modified":"2026-06-17T10:34:57.23Z","cvss":[{"version":"4.0","score":4.8,"vector":"CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X","level":"medium","assessor":"secondary"},{"version":"3.1","score":3.3,"vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N","level":"low","assessor":"secondary"},{"version":"3.1","score":5.5,"vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N","level":"medium","assessor":"primary"}],"cwes":["CWE-59","CWE-22"],"updated_at":"2026-11-02T14:12:09.735529Z"}],"osv":[{"id":"CVE-2026-32020","title":"OpenClaw \u003c 2026.2.22 - Arbitrary File Read via Symlink Following in Static File Handler","description":"OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.22 contain a path traversal vulnerability in the static file handler that follows symbolic links, allowing out-of-root file reads. Attackers can place symlinks under the Control UI root directory to bypass directory confinement checks and read arbitrary files outside the intended root.","status":"published","published":"2026-03-19T22:06:57.118Z","modified":"2026-10-28T02:31:08.832506533Z","cvss":[{"version":"4.0","score":4.8,"vector":"CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N","level":"medium"}],"cwes":["CWE-59"],"updated_at":"2026-11-02T15:45:01.218144Z"},{"id":"GHSA-5ghc-98wh-gwwf","title":"OpenClaw's Control UI Static File Handler Follows Symlinks and Allows Out-of-Root File Read","description":"### Summary\nThe Control UI static file handler previously validated asset paths lexically and then served files with APIs that follow symbolic links. A symlink placed under the Control UI root could cause out-of-root file reads.\n\n### Affected Packages / Versions\n- Package: `openclaw` (npm)\n- Latest published version observed: `2026.2.21-2`\n- Affected versions: `\u003c=2026.2.21-2`\n- Planned fixed release version: `2026.2.22`\n\n### Technical Details\nThe vulnerable flow was in `src/gateway/control-ui.ts`, where `path.join(...)` + string-prefix checks were followed by file reads that resolved symlinks. This allowed directory-confinement bypasses when symlinks existed inside the Control UI root.\n\nThe fix now enforces realpath containment and verifies file identity before serving Control UI assets and SPA fallback `index.html`.\n\n### Impact\n- Vulnerability type: path traversal / external file exposure via symlink following.\n- Primary impact: confidentiality (out-of-root file read).\n- Severity guidance: low in supported trusted-operator deployments; can be higher in unsupported shared-writable setups.\n\n### Fix Commit(s)\n- `7c500ff6236fa087ec1ec88696ca9f6881e90dc5`\n\n### Release Process Note\n`patched_versions` is pre-set to the planned next release (`2026.2.22`). After npm release is available, publish the advisory.\n\nOpenClaw thanks @tdjackey for reporting.","status":"published","published":"2026-03-02T22:19:03Z","modified":"2026-03-19T22:41:21.870173Z","cvss":[{"version":"3.1","score":3.3,"vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N","level":"low"}],"cwes":["CWE-22"],"updated_at":"2026-11-02T15:46:38.213481Z"}]}}