Path Traversal in Openclaw
CVE-2026-26972
OpenClaw is a personal AI assistant. In versions 2026.1.12 through 2026.2.12, OpenClaw browser download helpers accepted an unsanitized output path. When invoked via the browser control gateway routes, this allowed path traversal to write downloads outside the intended OpenClaw temp downloads directory. This issue is not exposed via the AI agent tool schema (no `download` action). Exploitation requires authenticated CLI access or an authenticated gateway RPC token. Version 2026.2.13 fixes the issue.
Vulnerability class: Path Traversal (Directory Traversal)
EPSS: 0.002 (10.0th percentile) — read the EPSS interpretation.
CVSS v3 metric
CVSS v3 base score 6.7 (Medium). Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
Affected products
- Openclaw — versions >= 2026.1.12, < 2026.2.13
Weakness classification (CWE)
References
- security-advisories@github.com (x_refsource_CONFIRM, Patch, Vendor Advisory)
- security-advisories@github.com (Patch, x_refsource_MISC)
- security-advisories@github.com (Product, x_refsource_MISC, Release Notes)
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2026-26972?
- CVE-2026-26972 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Openclaw, classified under Path Traversal. CVSS score: 6.7/10. Published 2026-02-20.
- How severe is CVE-2026-26972?
- Medium severity. CVSS v3 base score is 6.7 out of 10.