CVE-2026-32020Public exploit

Local file read via symlink-following handler

Published Mar 19, 2026 · Updated Mar 19, 2026

Path traversal in OpenClaw before 2026.2.22 allows local users to read files outside the Control UI root through a planted symlink. The handler in src/gateway/control-ui.ts joined and prefix-checked asset paths lexically, then read files through APIs that resolved symlink targets. Exploitation requires write access beneath the Control UI root; supported trusted-operator deployments limit that access, while shared-writable setups expose arbitrary local file contents.

CVSS severity4.8
Medium
EPSS probability0.13%
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 2026.2.22 allows local users to read files outside the Control UI root through a planted symlink. The handler in src/gateway/control-ui.ts joined and prefix-checked asset paths lexically, then read files through APIs that resolved symlink targets. Exploitation requires write access beneath the Control UI root; supported trusted-operator deployments limit that access, while shared-writable setups expose arbitrary local file contents.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-32020
Published
Mar 19, 2026
Updated
Mar 19, 2026
Vendor
OpenClaw Foundation
Product
OpenClaw
Classifications
CWE-59, CWE-22, T1005
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 19, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 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=0 <2026.2.22

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

OpenClaw Foundation · OpenClawversion=0 <2026.2.22

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
4.8VulnCheckCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
3.3VulnCheckCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N

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.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1005Data from Local System

Public exploit references

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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