CVE-2026-32054
Published: 21 March 2026
Summary
CVE-2026-32054 is a medium-severity Link Following (CWE-59) vulnerability in Openclaw Openclaw. Its CVSS base score is 5.9 (Medium).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Data Destruction (T1485); ranked at the 2.6th 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-2026-32054, published on 2026-03-21, is a symlink traversal vulnerability (CWE-59) in OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.25. The issue resides in the browser trace and download output path handling, which fails to properly validate symlinks. This allows local attackers to escape the managed temp root directory by creating symlinks that redirect file writes to arbitrary locations on the affected system.
An attacker requires local access and low privileges (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U) to exploit the vulnerability. By crafting symlinks in the temp directory, they can route trace or download output writes outside the intended scope, enabling arbitrary file overwrites. This yields a CVSS base score of 6.5, with low confidentiality impact but high integrity and availability impacts (C:L/I:H/A:H).
Mitigation is addressed by upgrading to OpenClaw 2026.2.25 or later, where the vulnerability is fixed via commit https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/496a76c03ba85e15ea715e5a583e498ae04d36e3. Further details are available in the GitHub security advisory at https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-36h3-7c54-j27r and the VulnCheck advisory at https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-symlink-traversal-in-browser-trace-download-path-handling.
OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2026-13955
Vulnerability details
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.25 contain a symlink traversal vulnerability in browser trace and download output path handling that allows local attackers to escape the managed temp root directory. An attacker with local access can create symlinks to route file…
more
writes outside the intended temp directory, enabling arbitrary file overwrite on the affected system.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
Symlink traversal enabling arbitrary file overwrites directly facilitates stored data manipulation (T1565.001), data destruction (T1485), host binary compromise (T1554), and defense impairment via tool/config modification (T1562.001).
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Directly addresses the vulnerability by requiring timely flaw remediation through patching to OpenClaw 2026.2.25 or later where symlink validation is fixed.
Mandates validation of file paths used in browser trace and download output handling to block symlink traversal and prevent escape from the temp directory.
Provides integrity verification mechanisms to detect unauthorized file overwrites caused by symlink redirection outside the intended temp directory.