CVE-2026-32033
Published: 19 March 2026
Summary
CVE-2026-32033 is a medium-severity Path Traversal (CWE-22) vulnerability in Openclaw Openclaw. Its CVSS base score is 6.0 (Medium).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Data from Local System (T1005); ranked at the 21.7th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 SI-10 (Information Input Validation) and SI-2 (Flaw Remediation).
Deeper analysis
CVE-2026-32033, published on 2026-03-19, is a path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22) in OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.24. It affects the workspace-only file-system boundary validation enabled by the tools.fs.workspaceOnly setting. Due to a canonicalization mismatch, attackers can bypass restrictions using @-prefixed absolute paths, such as @/etc/passwd, to access files outside the intended workspace.
The vulnerability carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N). Low-privileged remote users (PR:L) can exploit it over the network with low attack complexity and no user interaction. Exploitation allows arbitrary file reads beyond the workspace boundary, compromising high confidentiality without impacting integrity or availability.
Mitigation requires upgrading to OpenClaw version 2026.2.24 or later, as implemented in the patch commit at https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/9ef0fc2ff8fa7b145d1e746d6eb030b1bf692260. Further details are provided in the GitHub security advisory at https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-27cr-4p5m-74rj and the VulnCheck advisory at https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-path-traversal-via-prefixed-absolute-paths-in-workspace-boundary-validation.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2026-13314
Vulnerability details
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.24 contain a path traversal vulnerability where @-prefixed absolute paths bypass workspace-only file-system boundary validation due to canonicalization mismatch. Attackers can exploit this by crafting @-prefixed paths like @/etc/passwd to read files outside the intended workspace…
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boundary when tools.fs.workspaceOnly is enabled.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
Path traversal in network-accessible app (PR:L) directly enables T1190 exploitation for unauthorized local file access and T1005 arbitrary data collection from the filesystem (e.g., /etc/passwd).
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Directly remediates the path traversal vulnerability by requiring timely patching to OpenClaw version 2026.2.24 or later, addressing the canonicalization mismatch.
Ensures validation of file path inputs to block @-prefixed absolute paths that bypass workspace-only file-system boundaries.
Enforces access control policies restricting reads to workspace files only, mitigating exploitation even with crafted traversal paths.