GHSA-3jx4-q2m7-r496

OpenClaw: Hardlink alias checks could bypass workspace-only file boundaries in specific configurations

High npm

Severity: 0.0 / 10; High · CVSS 4.0
Exploit chance (EPSS): —; No score published
Known exploited: No; Not in CISA's catalog
Weakness: CWE-59 Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following'); CWE-668 Exposure of Resource to Wrong Sphere
Fix: 2026.2.25; Upgrade openclaw to this version or later

Description

Summary

In certain workspace-restricted configurations, OpenClaw could follow hardlink aliases inside the workspace that reference files outside the workspace boundary.

By default, tools.fs.workspaceOnly is off. This primarily affects deployments that intentionally enable workspace-only filesystem restrictions (and workspace-only apply_patch checks).

Impact

Confidentiality: out-of-workspace files could be read through in-workspace hardlink aliases.
Integrity: out-of-workspace files could be modified through in-workspace hardlink aliases.

Affected Packages / Versions

Package: openclaw (npm)
Latest published version at triage time: 2026.2.24
Affected range: <= 2026.2.24
Planned patched version: 2026.2.25

Fix Commit(s)

04d91d0319b82fd4de91ed05e9fc5219ff2ab64e (main)

Remediation

OpenClaw now rejects hardlinked final-file aliases during workspace boundary validation for:

workspace-only path checks (read / write / edit)
workspace-only apply_patch read/write paths
sandbox mount-root path-safety checks

Regression tests were added for apply_patch, workspace fs tools, and sandbox fs bridge hardlink alias escapes.

OpenClaw thanks @tdjackey for reporting.

Affected versions

npm

Package	Vulnerable	Fixed in
openclaw	`< 2026.2.25`	`2026.2.25`

How to fix

Move to the fixed version or later with your package manager, update the lockfile, and run your tests. If the package only arrives through another dependency, upgrade that dependency first. If none of its releases pulls a fixed version yet, force the version with your package manager's override.

openclaw npm → `2026.2.25`

npm

npm install openclaw@2026.2.25

yarn

yarn add openclaw@2026.2.25

pnpm

pnpm add openclaw@2026.2.25

Severity breakdown

CVSS 4.0 0.0

CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Attack vector: Network
Attack complexity: Low
Attack requirements: Present
Privileges required: Low
User interaction: None
Confidentiality (vulnerable system): High
Integrity (vulnerable system): High
Availability (vulnerable system): None
Confidentiality (subsequent systems): None
Integrity (subsequent systems): None
Availability (subsequent systems): None

Weakness

CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')

The product attempts to access a file based on the filename, but it does not properly prevent that filename from identifying a link or shortcut that resolves to an unintended resource.

How to prevent it

Architecture and Design: Follow the principle of least privilege when assigning access rights to entities in a software system. Denying access to a file can prevent an attacker from replacing that file with a link to a sensitive file. Ensure good compartmentalization in the system to provide protected areas that can be trusted.

CWE-668: Exposure of Resource to Wrong Sphere

The product exposes a resource to the wrong control sphere, providing unintended actors with inappropriate access to the resource.

References

Packages

github.com/openclaw/openclaw

Timeline

Mar 4, 2026 Published
Mar 4, 2026 Last updated by the source

Advisory	Severity	Why it's related
GHSA-3x84-qq85-fj65 OpenClaw: Browser CDP discovery could accept blocked WebSocket URLs	High	Also affects openclaw
GHSA-9c3v-684m-579c OpenClaw MCP SSE redirects could forward Authorization headers	Medium	Also affects openclaw
GHSA-f397-5vjw-v2c2 OpenClaw: Shell inline-command parsing could miss an allowlist check	High	Also affects openclaw
GHSA-rx78-29qr-5hq8 OpenClaw: Workspace-derived service PATH could influence trash command selection	High	Also affects openclaw
GHSA-ccwh-wwpp-6wg5 OpenClaw: Host environment sanitizer missed two Node.js control variables	High	Also affects openclaw
GHSA-985f-72mj-8gf7 OpenClaw: Tool group policy callers could accept unvalidated group IDs	Medium	Also affects openclaw
GHSA-9v8j-9c9g-w66c OpenClaw: Bootstrap token replay could widen pending pairing scopes	Medium	Also affects openclaw
GHSA-c226-q6fx-6j6c OpenClaw: macOS Swift exec allowlist missed combined POSIX inline flags	Medium	Also affects openclaw

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