OpenClaw vulnerable to arbitrary file read via $include directive

Exploitation

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

CVSS 4.0

6.9 · 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 · score source

EPSS

• CVE-2026-32061: 0.15% estimated exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 4.33 (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.

Vulnerability Path traversal in config $include resolution allowed arbitrary local file reads outside the config directory boundary (CWE-22). Attack Vectors 1. If an attacker can modify OpenClaw config, they can set $include to absolute paths (for example /etc/passwd) and read files accessible to the OpenClaw process. 2. If an attacker can modify OpenClaw config, they can use traversal paths (for example ../../...) to escape the config directory. 3. If an attacker can create symlinks inside the config directory, they can point includes to external files unless real-path checks are enforced. 4. Impact scope is bounded by the file permissions of the OpenClaw runtime user; this is not an unauthenticated remote-only vector by itself. Impact A successful exploit can expose local secrets and credentials readable by the OpenClaw process user, including API keys and private config material. Affected Packages / Versions - Package: openclaw (npm) - Vulnerable versions: <=2026.2.15 - Patched…

Published by the source

3 Mar 2026, 19:57 UTC

Last modified by the source

13 Mar 2026, 10:56 UTC

Source last checked

26 Oct 2026, 12:43 UTC

1. Revision 3 · amended · 26 Oct 2026

   Amended from ghsa record GHSA-56pc-6hvp-4gv4

2. Revision 2 · amended · 24 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-56pc-6hvp-4gv4

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# Patch Next advisory brief: CVE-2026-32061

Advisory: OpenClaw vulnerable to arbitrary file read via $include directive
IDs: CVE-2026-32061, GHSA-56pc-6hvp-4gv4
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/cve-2026-32061 (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: Medium (CVSS 6.9)
Exploitation: no confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next confirms exploitation only from CISA KEV.
Vendor response: Vendor fix available; fixed versions by package: openclaw 2026.2.17. A vendor fix does not mean a deployment is fixed.

## Affected components
- npm openclaw: affected < 2026.2.17; fixed in 2026.2.17

## 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-56pc-6hvp-4gv4 (OSV record GHSA-56pc-6hvp-4gv4 lists affected ranges: npm openclaw >=0 <2026.2.17 (fixed))
- Verified: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-56pc-6hvp-4gv4 (GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-56pc-6hvp-4gv4 lists affected ranges: npm openclaw >=0 <2026.2.17)

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