OpenClaw has Zip Slip path traversal in tar archive extraction

Exploitation

No confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next marks exploitation only from CISA KEV.

CVSS 4.0

8.3 · CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N · score source

EPSS

• CVE-2026-28453: 0.48% estimated exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 41.13 (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-03). This is a model estimate, not proof of exploitation or customer exposure.

As published by the source; long descriptions are shortened.

Summary OpenClaw versions before 2026.2.14 did not sufficiently validate TAR archive entry paths during extraction. A crafted archive could use path traversal sequences (for example ../../...) to write files outside the intended destination directory (Zip Slip). Affected Packages / Versions - Package: openclaw (npm) - Affected: < 2026.2.14 - Fixed: = 2026.2.14 Details The affected code path is extractArchive() in src/infra/archive.ts. Prior to 2026.2.14, TAR extraction used tar.x({ cwd: destDir }) without rejecting traversal and absolute entry paths. This extraction is used by installation flows such as: - openclaw plugins install … - openclaw hooks install … Impact If a user installs an untrusted .tar / .tgz archive, an attacker can write files outside the extraction directory (within the permissions of the OpenClaw process). This can lead to configuration tampering and potentially code execution. Mitigation Upgrade to openclaw = 2026.2.14. Avoid installing untrusted plugin/hook…

Published by the source

2 Mar 2026, 22:40 UTC

Last modified by the source

6 Mar 2026, 01:16 UTC

Source last checked

26 Oct 2026, 12:43 UTC

1. Revision 3 · amended · 26 Oct 2026

   Amended from ghsa record GHSA-p25h-9q54-ffvw

2. Revision 2 · amended · 25 Oct 2026

   Reviewed OSV alias/range/CVSS4 correction; package source scopes and original publication preserved. No customer finding resolved.

3. Revision 1 · created · 24 Oct 2026

   Published from osv record GHSA-p25h-9q54-ffvw

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# Patch Next advisory brief: CVE-2026-28453

Advisory: OpenClaw has Zip Slip path traversal in tar archive extraction
IDs: CVE-2026-28453, GHSA-p25h-9q54-ffvw
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/cve-2026-28453 (revision 3, source checked 26 Oct 2026, 12:43 UTC)
Inventory: none attached. This brief comes from a public page and does not say whether any deployment is affected.
Severity: High (CVSS 8.3)
Exploitation: no confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next confirms exploitation only from CISA KEV.
Vendor response: Vendor fix available; fixed versions by package: openclaw 2026.2.14. A vendor fix does not mean a deployment is fixed.

## Affected components
- npm openclaw: affected < 2026.2.14; fixed in 2026.2.14

## Suggested inspection (read-only)
- `npm ls openclaw --all`: lists every installed copy and version, including transitive ones. Run in the project root after `npm ci`.

## Supported action
Upgrade each affected component to a fixed version on its release line. For a transitive dependency, upgrade the parent package or add an override or constraint, then regenerate the lockfile. Redeploy every environment that ran an affected version.

## Required regression checks
- Run the test suite and a production build.
- Exercise the features that depend on openclaw.
- Repeat the inspection and confirm that only fixed versions remain installed.

## Rollback considerations
- Keep the previous lockfile and deployment artifact. Rolling back reinstates the vulnerable version, so apply any documented mitigation while you fix forward.

## Unresolved questions
- Which deployments run an affected version?
- Exploitation status can change. Check again before lowering the priority.
- Mark the work resolved only after the fixed version is verified in production.

## Sources
- Verified: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-p25h-9q54-ffvw (OSV record GHSA-p25h-9q54-ffvw lists affected ranges: npm openclaw >=0 <2026.2.14 (fixed))
- Verified: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-p25h-9q54-ffvw (GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-p25h-9q54-ffvw lists affected ranges: npm openclaw >=0 <2026.2.14)

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