CVE-2026-41389 Overview
OpenClaw versions 2026.4.7 before 2026.4.15 contain a path traversal vulnerability due to insufficient validation of tool-result media paths. The application fails to enforce local-root containment when processing media references, allowing attackers to craft malicious paths that trigger arbitrary file reads on the host system. This vulnerability also extends to Windows environments where UNC paths can be accessed, potentially exposing NTLM credentials through forced authentication attempts.
Critical Impact
Attackers can access sensitive files outside the intended directory scope or trigger Windows network path access, potentially disclosing configuration files, credentials, or internal system information.
Affected Products
- OpenClaw versions 2026.4.7 through 2026.4.14
- Systems running OpenClaw with tool-result media processing enabled
- Windows hosts are additionally vulnerable to UNC path-based credential exposure
Discovery Timeline
- April 20, 2026 - CVE-2026-41389 published to NVD
- April 20, 2026 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-41389
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability is classified as CWE-73 (External Control of File Name or Path), a form of path traversal that occurs when an application uses external input to construct a pathname for accessing files without properly neutralizing special path elements. In the case of OpenClaw, the tool-result media path handling mechanism does not validate that referenced paths remain within the expected local root directory.
When processing tool results that include media references, OpenClaw directly uses the provided path values without sanitization. This allows attackers to include directory traversal sequences (such as ../) or absolute paths to access files outside the application's intended scope. On Windows systems, this vulnerability is particularly concerning as attackers can supply UNC paths (e.g., \\attacker-server\share\file) that trigger outbound SMB connections, potentially leaking NTLM hashes.
Root Cause
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the absence of path containment validation within the tool-result media processing logic. The application accepts file paths from tool results without verifying that the resolved path remains within an authorized directory boundary. This lack of canonicalization and boundary checking allows external entities to control file access operations.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based, as attackers can supply malicious tool-result payloads containing crafted media path references. On Unix-like systems, path traversal sequences can access sensitive files such as /etc/passwd or application configuration files. On Windows systems, attackers can leverage UNC paths to force the application to initiate SMB connections to attacker-controlled servers, capturing NTLM authentication hashes for offline cracking or relay attacks.
The vulnerability mechanism involves the application processing tool-result data containing media path references. When the application receives a malicious path reference containing traversal sequences like ../../../etc/passwd or UNC paths like \\attacker.com\share, it directly accesses these paths without validation. For detailed technical implementation, refer to the GitHub Security Advisory.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-41389
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected file access attempts targeting system configuration files such as /etc/passwd, /etc/shadow, or Windows SAM files
- Network traffic showing SMB/CIFS connections to external or unknown IP addresses originating from the OpenClaw process
- Log entries showing path traversal sequences (../) in tool-result media references
- Access attempts to files outside the OpenClaw application directory structure
Detection Strategies
- Implement file integrity monitoring on sensitive system files to detect unauthorized read access attempts
- Monitor network traffic for outbound SMB connections (ports 445, 139) from application servers that should not initiate such connections
- Deploy endpoint detection rules to flag processes attempting to access files using path traversal patterns
- Configure application-level logging to capture all file access operations from the tool-result processing module
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose logging for OpenClaw tool-result processing to capture all media path references
- Implement SIEM rules to alert on path traversal patterns in application logs
- Monitor Windows Security Event logs for Event ID 4648 (explicit credential logon) that may indicate forced SMB authentication
- Deploy SentinelOne agents to detect and alert on anomalous file access patterns from the OpenClaw process
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-41389
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade OpenClaw to version 2026.4.15 or later immediately
- Review application logs for evidence of exploitation attempts using path traversal sequences
- Block outbound SMB traffic (ports 445, 139) from application servers at the network perimeter
- Implement application-layer firewall rules to restrict file access to authorized directories only
Patch Information
The OpenClaw development team has released security patches to address this vulnerability. The fixes implement proper path containment validation to ensure tool-result media references cannot escape the designated local root directory. The patches are available through the following commits:
For complete advisory details, see the GitHub Security Advisory and the VulnCheck Advisory.
Workarounds
- Configure network-level controls to block all outbound SMB traffic from OpenClaw servers
- Implement strict file system permissions to limit the OpenClaw process account's read access to only necessary directories
- Deploy a reverse proxy or WAF to filter incoming requests containing path traversal sequences before they reach the application
- On Windows systems, consider disabling NTLM authentication or restricting NTLM traffic to internal networks only
# Block outbound SMB traffic on Linux hosts running OpenClaw
iptables -A OUTPUT -p tcp --dport 445 -m owner --uid-owner openclaw -j DROP
iptables -A OUTPUT -p tcp --dport 139 -m owner --uid-owner openclaw -j DROP
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
