CVE-2026-26972

Authenticated arbitrary file write via download path

Published Feb 19, 2026 · Updated Feb 19, 2026

Path traversal in OpenClaw 2026.1.12 through 2026.2.12 allows attackers to write downloads outside the temp directory via gateway routes. The waitForDownloadViaPlaywright and downloadViaPlaywright helpers accepted caller-controlled output paths without restricting them to the download root. Authenticated CLI access or a gateway RPC token is required, and the process can create or overwrite any file permitted by its host account.

CVSS severity6.7
Medium
EPSS probability0.20%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Path traversal in OpenClaw 2026.1.12 through 2026.2.12 allows attackers to write downloads outside the temp directory via gateway routes. The waitForDownloadViaPlaywright and downloadViaPlaywright helpers accepted caller-controlled output paths without restricting them to the download root. Authenticated CLI access or a gateway RPC token is required, and the process can create or overwrite any file permitted by its host account.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-26972
Published
Feb 19, 2026
Updated
Feb 19, 2026
Vendor
OpenClaw Foundation
Product
OpenClaw
Classifications
CWE-22, CAPEC-126, T1105
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 19, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 19, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=>= 2026.1.12, < 2026.2.13

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

OpenClaw Foundation · OpenClawversion=>= 2026.1.12, < 2026.2.13

Published CVSS scores

6.7GitHub, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
CAPEC-126Path Traversal
T1105Ingress Tool Transfer

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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