OpenClaw vulnerable to path traversal (Zip Slip) in archive extraction during explicit installation commands

CVE-2026-28486 → View on GitHub ↗ View on CVE.org ↗ View on NVD ↗

Description

Summary

A path traversal (Zip Slip) issue in archive extraction during explicit installation commands could allow a crafted archive to write files outside the intended extraction directory.

Affected Packages / Versions

  • Package: openclaw (npm)
  • Affected versions: >=2026.1.16-2 <2026.2.14
  • Fixed version: 2026.2.14

Affected Commands / Flows

This only affects users who run installation commands against an untrusted archive (local file or download URL), for example:

  • openclaw skills install (download+extract installers)
  • openclaw hooks install (archive installs)
  • openclaw plugins install (archive installs)
  • openclaw signal install (signal-cli asset extraction)

It is not triggered by receiving messages or normal gateway operation.

Impact

Arbitrary file write as the current user. In the worst case this can be used for persistence or code execution if an attacker can convince a user to install a crafted archive.

Fix

  • Fix commit: 3aa94afcfd12104c683c9cad81faf434d0dadf87
  • Released in: 2026.2.14

Credits

OpenClaw thanks @markmusson for reporting.

Basic information

Type
reviewed
Severity
medium
Advisory on GitHub
Open advisory ↗
Repository advisory
Open repository advisory ↗
Source code
Browse source ↗
Published (advisory)
2026-03-02 23:23:03 UTC
Updated
2026-03-06 01:05:45 UTC
GitHub reviewed
2026-03-02 23:23:03 UTC
NVD published
2026-03-05

EPSS Score

Score Percentile
0.03% 8.76%

CVSS Scores

Base score Version Severity Vector
6.1 3.1 —
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:L Click to expand
Attack vector (AV:L)
They already need access on the box, or another person has to do something wrong; it’s not a remote drive-by.
Attack complexity (AC:L)
Once they can reach the bug, pulling it off is straightforward—no weird race conditions or rare setup.
Privileges required (PR:N)
No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough.
User interaction (UI:R)
A real person has to do something—click, install, enable—otherwise it doesn’t land.
Scope (S:U)
Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:N)
Doesn’t really leak secrets in a meaningful way.
Integrity (I:H)
They could widely tamper with or forge data—trust in the data is badly hurt.
Availability (A:L)
Might cause slowdowns, glitches, or partial disruption—not a full brick.
6.9 4.0 —
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N Click to expand
Attack vector (AV:L)
Attacker needs local access on the target system.
Attack complexity (AC:L)
Exploitation conditions are straightforward and stable.
Attack requirements (AT:N)
No additional preconditions are required beyond normal reachability.
Privileges required (PR:N)
No privileges are required.
User interaction (UI:N)
No user interaction is required.
Vulnerable system confidentiality impact (VC:H)
High confidentiality impact on the vulnerable system.
Vulnerable system integrity impact (VI:N)
No integrity impact on the vulnerable system.
Vulnerable system availability impact (VA:N)
No availability impact on the vulnerable system.
Subsequent system confidentiality impact (SC:N)
No confidentiality impact on subsequent systems.
Subsequent system integrity impact (SI:N)
No integrity impact on subsequent systems.
Subsequent system availability impact (SA:N)
No availability impact on subsequent systems.

Identifiers

Type Value
GHSA GHSA-v892-hwpg-jwqp ↗
CVE CVE-2026-28486 ↗

CWEs

CWE id Name
CWE-22 Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')

Credits

  • markmusson (reporter)

Affected packages (1)

Vulnerable version ranges and first patched releases as published by GitHub.

Ecosystem Package Vulnerable range First patched Vulnerable functions
npm openclaw >= 2026.1.16-2, < 2026.2.14 2026.2.14 —

References

cvelogic Threat Intelligence