OpenClaw vulnerable to sensitive file disclosure via stageSandboxMedia

Summary

When iMessage remote attachment fetching is enabled (channels.imessage.remoteHost), stageSandboxMedia accepted arbitrary absolute paths and used SCP to copy them into local staging.

If a non-attachment path reaches this flow, files outside expected iMessage attachment directories on the remote host can be staged.

Affected Packages / Versions

• Package: openclaw
• Affected: up to and including 2026.2.17 (latest npm version as of February 19, 2026)
• Fixed: pending next release with remote attachment path validation

Impact

Confidentiality impact. An attacker who can influence inbound attachment path metadata may disclose files readable by the OpenClaw process on the configured remote host.

Attack Preconditions

1. iMessage attachments enabled (channels.imessage.includeAttachments=true), and
2. remote attachment mode active (channels.imessage.remoteHost configured or auto-detected), and
3. attacker can inject/tamper with attachment path metadata.

Given these preconditions, this advisory is assessed as medium severity.

Fix Commit(s)

• 1316e5740382926e45a42097b4bfe0aef7d63e8e

Release Process Note

patched_versions should be set to the next released npm version that includes remote attachment path validation, then the advisory can be published.

Mitigation

• Upgrade to the first release that includes remote attachment path validation.
• If remote attachments are not required, disable iMessage attachment ingestion.
• Run OpenClaw under least privilege on the remote host.

OpenClaw thanks @zpbrent for reporting.