OpenClaw: Zip extraction symlink traversal could write outside destination

Summary

A path confinement bypass in OpenClaw ZIP extraction allowed writes outside the intended destination when a pre-existing symlink was present under the extraction root.

Affected Packages / Versions

• Package: openclaw (npm)
• Latest published npm version at triage time: 2026.2.21-2
• Affected versions: <= 2026.2.21-2
• Planned patched version for next release: 2026.2.22

Technical Details

The vulnerable path was in src/infra/archive.ts ZIP extraction logic. Output-path checks were lexical, but writes could still traverse an existing symlink in destination path segments.

The fix blocks this by:

• rejecting symlink traversal in destination path segments,
• validating resolved destination paths remain inside the extraction root,
• using no-follow file opens for ZIP output writes where supported,
• adding a regression test for pre-seeded destination symlink traversal.

Impact

• Type: Arbitrary file write outside extraction root via symlink traversal during ZIP extraction.
• Preconditions: attacker-controlled archive extraction plus pre-existing symlink in destination path.

Fix Commit(s)

• 4b226b74f5fd3b106a83a6347fd404172e2fd246

Release Process Note

Patched version is pre-set to the planned next release (2026.2.22). Once npm release 2026.2.22 is published, the advisory can be published without further field edits.

OpenClaw thanks @tdjackey for reporting.