OpenClaw's unsanitized session ID enables path traversal in transcript file operations
Description
OpenClaw versions <= 2026.2.9 construct transcript file paths using an unsanitized sessionId and also accept sessionFile paths without enforcing that they stay within the agent sessions directory.
A crafted sessionId and/or sessionFile (example: ../../etc/passwd) can cause path traversal when the gateway performs transcript file read/write operations.
Preconditions: an attacker must be able to authenticate to the gateway (gateway token/password). By default the gateway binds to loopback (local-only); configurations that expose the gateway widen the attack surface.
Affected Packages / Versions
- Package:
openclaw(npm) - Affected:
<= 2026.2.9 - Fixed:
>= 2026.2.12
Fix
Fixed by validating session IDs (rejecting path separators / traversal sequences) and enforcing sessions-directory containment for session transcript file operations.
Fix Commit(s)
4199f9889f0c307b77096a229b9e085b8d856c26
Additional Hardening
cab0abf52ac91e12ea7a0cf04fff315cf0c94d64
Mitigation
Upgrade to openclaw >= 2026.2.12.
Thanks @akhmittra for reporting.
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm package | openclaw | < 2026.2.12 | 2026.2.12 |
References
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-5xfq-5mr7-426q
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-28482
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/4199f9889f0c307b77096a229b9e085b8d856c26
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/cab0abf52ac91e12ea7a0cf04fff315cf0c94d64
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/releases/tag/v2026.2.12
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-path-traversal-via-unsanitized-sessionid-and-sessionfile-parameters
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-22- Platform
- npm
- Package
openclaw- Disclosed
- 18.02.2026
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-5xfq-5mr7-426q - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: openclaw
All published vulnerabilities of this package (npm package), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 589
- First → latest
- 02.2026 10.2026
- Without a fix
- 9
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Critical 20
- High 215
- Medium 300
- Low 54
Disclosures per year
- 2026: 589
-
OpenClaw's unsanitized session ID enables path traversal in transcript file operations this entry
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