CVE-2026-28452 Overview
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.14 contain a denial of service vulnerability in the extractArchive function within src/infra/archive.ts. This vulnerability allows attackers to consume excessive CPU, memory, and disk resources through high-expansion ZIP and TAR archives. Remote attackers can trigger resource exhaustion by providing maliciously crafted archive files during install or update operations, causing service degradation or complete system unavailability.
Critical Impact
Attackers can leverage maliciously crafted archive files to exhaust system resources (CPU, memory, and disk), leading to denial of service conditions that may render the affected system or application unresponsive.
Affected Products
- OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.14
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-03-05 - CVE CVE-2026-28452 published to NVD
- 2026-03-05 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-28452
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability falls under CWE-770 (Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling). The extractArchive function in OpenClaw's src/infra/archive.ts module fails to implement proper safeguards when processing archive files. When a user initiates install or update operations that involve archive extraction, the function processes the contents without validating the decompression ratio or imposing resource limits.
High-expansion archives, commonly known as "zip bombs" or "decompression bombs," exploit this weakness by containing data with extremely high compression ratios. When extracted, these archives expand to sizes that far exceed available system resources, causing memory exhaustion, disk space consumption, and CPU overload.
Root Cause
The root cause lies in the absence of resource allocation limits within the extractArchive function. The function processes ZIP and TAR archives without:
- Validating the expected decompressed size against available resources
- Implementing extraction size limits or thresholds
- Checking compression ratios to detect potentially malicious archives
- Setting timeouts or resource consumption boundaries during extraction
This unguarded approach allows attackers to craft archives that, when processed, consume disproportionate system resources relative to their compressed size.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is local, requiring user interaction. An attacker must convince a user to process a malicious archive file through OpenClaw's install or update functionality. The attack scenario typically involves:
- The attacker creates a high-expansion archive (ZIP or TAR) designed to expand to sizes that exhaust system resources
- The malicious archive is distributed through channels where victims might use it with OpenClaw
- When a user initiates an install or update operation with the crafted archive, the extractArchive function begins processing
- The archive decompresses without resource limits, rapidly consuming available memory, CPU cycles, and disk space
- System resources become exhausted, leading to application crashes, system slowdowns, or complete unavailability
For detailed technical information about this vulnerability and the fixes applied, refer to the GitHub Security Advisory.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-28452
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual spikes in CPU or memory utilization during archive extraction operations
- Rapid and unexpected disk space consumption in temporary or extraction directories
- Application crashes or unresponsiveness during install or update procedures
- System logs indicating resource exhaustion or out-of-memory conditions
Detection Strategies
- Monitor system resource utilization during OpenClaw operations to detect abnormal consumption patterns
- Implement file integrity monitoring on OpenClaw installation directories to identify unexpected large file extractions
- Deploy endpoint detection rules that alert on high compression ratio archive processing
- Review application logs for extraction failures or timeout events that may indicate attempted exploitation
Monitoring Recommendations
- Configure resource monitoring alerts for processes related to OpenClaw operations
- Establish baseline metrics for normal archive extraction resource usage to detect anomalies
- Enable detailed logging for archive extraction operations to capture forensic data
- Monitor temporary directories used during install and update operations for unusual growth patterns
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-28452
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade OpenClaw to version 2026.2.14 or later immediately
- Audit recent install and update operations for signs of resource exhaustion attacks
- Review source integrity of archive files used with OpenClaw before processing
- Consider implementing system-level resource limits for OpenClaw processes as a defense-in-depth measure
Patch Information
OpenClaw has released patches addressing this vulnerability. The fixes implement proper resource allocation limits and validation within the extractArchive function. Organizations should update to version 2026.2.14 or later.
Relevant security patches can be found at:
For complete vulnerability details and remediation guidance, consult the GitHub Security Advisory and the VulnCheck Advisory.
Workarounds
- Implement operating system-level resource quotas for processes running OpenClaw operations
- Use external archive validation tools to inspect archive files before processing with OpenClaw
- Configure disk quotas on directories used for extraction to limit potential impact
- Deploy network-level controls to validate archive files from untrusted sources before they reach OpenClaw
# Example: Configure process resource limits using ulimit (Linux)
# Limit virtual memory to 2GB and max file size to 1GB
ulimit -v 2097152
ulimit -f 1048576
# Then run OpenClaw operations with these constraints
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
