OpenClaw has a Path Traversal in Browser Download Functionality

Summary

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.

Affected Packages / Versions

• Package: openclaw (npm)
• Affected: >=2026.1.12, <=2026.2.12
• Fixed: >=2026.2.13

Details

Affected code: src/browser/pw-tools-core.downloads.ts (waitForDownloadViaPlaywright, downloadViaPlaywright).

Fixed entrypoints (as of 2026.2.13):

• Gateway browser control routes /wait/download and /download now restrict path to DEFAULT_DOWNLOAD_DIR via resolvePathWithinRoot.

Fix Commit(s)

• 7f0489e4731c8d965d78d6eac4a60312e46a9426

Mitigation

Upgrade to openclaw >=2026.2.13.

Thanks @locus-x64 for reporting.