CVE-2026-28453Network attack vector

Out-of-directory file write via unchecked TAR paths

Published Mar 5, 2026 · Updated Mar 5, 2026

Path traversal in OpenClaw before 2026.2.14 allows attackers to write files outside an archive's extraction directory. The extractArchive() function passes TAR entries to tar.x with a destination directory but does not reject absolute paths or parent-directory traversal. Exploitation requires a user to install an untrusted TAR or TGZ plugin or hook archive, permitting writes with OpenClaw's privileges and enabling configuration tampering or code execution.

CVSS severity8.3
High
EPSS probability0.41%
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 before 2026.2.14 allows attackers to write files outside an archive's extraction directory. The extractArchive() function passes TAR entries to tar.x with a destination directory but does not reject absolute paths or parent-directory traversal. Exploitation requires a user to install an untrusted TAR or TGZ plugin or hook archive, permitting writes with OpenClaw's privileges and enabling configuration tampering or code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-28453
Published
Mar 5, 2026
Updated
Mar 5, 2026
Vendor
OpenClaw Foundation
Product
OpenClaw
Classifications
CWE-22, T1204.002
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 5, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 5, 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=0 <2026.2.14

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

OpenClaw Foundation · OpenClawversion=0 <2026.2.14

Published CVSS scores

8.3VulnCheckCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
8.1GitHubCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
9.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1204.002Malicious File

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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