OpenClaw has agent avatar symlink traversal in gateway session metadata
Key facts
- Attack vector
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- Privileges required
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- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
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- Impact type
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- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Fixed
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from GitHub.
Summary
## Summary A crafted local avatar path could follow a symlink outside the agent workspace and return arbitrary file contents as a base64 `data:` URL in gateway responses. ## Impact - Confidentiality impact: local file read in the gateway process context. - Exfiltration path: `agents.list` can return the resulting `avatarUrl` payload. ## Affected Components - `src/gateway/session-utils.ts` (`resolveIdentityAvatarUrl`) ## Affected Packages / Versions - Package: `openclaw` (npm) - Introduced: `v2026.1.21` - Affected published versions: `<= 2026.2.21-2` - Planned patched version: `2026.2.22` ## Remediation - Resolve workspace and avatar paths with `realpath` and enforce realpath containment. - Open files with `O_NOFOLLOW` when available. - Compare pre-open and opened file identity (`dev`/`ino`) to block swap races. - Add regression tests for outside-workspace symlink rejection and in-workspace symlink allowance. ## Fix Commit(s) - `3d0337504349954237d09e4d957df5cb844d5e77` OpenClaw thanks @aether-ai-agent for reporting.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | openclaw (npm) | before 2026.2.22 | 2026.2.22 | Patch available | GHSA-9mph-4f7v-fmvh |
- openclaw (npm) Vendor— Affected before 2026.2.22 Fixed in 2026.2.22 Patch available GHSA-9mph-4f7v-fmvh
Remediation
- Fix · GHSA-9mph-4f7v-fmvh openclaw (npm) Fixed in 2026.2.22 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-03 Threatist record created from GHSA-9mph-4f7v-fmvh
References
Sources
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