OpenClaw's TOCTOU symlink race in writeFileWithinRoot could create or truncate files outside root boundaries

Exploitation

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

CVSS 4.0

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

EPSS

No dated EPSS signal available.

As published by the source; long descriptions are shortened.

Summary A symlink-retarget TOCTOU race in writeFileWithinRoot could point an attacker-controlled path alias outside the configured root between resolution and write operations. Impact Affected versions could cause out-of-root write side effects (including file creation or truncation) before final boundary validation. Fix Root-scoped write flow now opens existing files without pre-truncation, creates missing files with exclusive create semantics, truncates only after post-open identity/boundary checks, and removes out-of-root artifacts when a race is detected. Affected and Patched Versions - Affected: <= 2026.2.26 - Patched: 2026.3.1

Published by the source

2 Mar 2026, 21:55 UTC

Last modified by the source

4 Mar 2026, 15:17 UTC

Source last checked

26 Oct 2026, 12:42 UTC

1. Revision 3 · amended · 26 Oct 2026

   Amended from ghsa record GHSA-x82f-27x3-q89c

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-x82f-27x3-q89c

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# Patch Next advisory brief: GHSA-x82f-27x3-q89c

Advisory: OpenClaw's TOCTOU symlink race in writeFileWithinRoot could create or truncate files outside root boundaries
IDs: GHSA-x82f-27x3-q89c
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/ghsa-x82f-27x3-q89c (revision 3, source checked 26 Oct 2026, 12:42 UTC)
Inventory: none attached. This brief comes from a public page and does not say whether any deployment is affected.
Severity: High (CVSS 8.7)
Exploitation: no confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next confirms exploitation only from CISA KEV.
Vendor response: Vendor fix available; fixed versions by package: openclaw 2026.3.1. A vendor fix does not mean a deployment is fixed.

## Affected components
- npm openclaw: affected < 2026.3.1; fixed in 2026.3.1

## 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-x82f-27x3-q89c (OSV record GHSA-x82f-27x3-q89c lists affected ranges: npm openclaw >=0 <2026.3.1 (fixed))
- Verified: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-x82f-27x3-q89c (GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-x82f-27x3-q89c lists affected ranges: npm openclaw >=0 <2026.3.1)

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