Raw vector
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:XCVSS and EPSS are reproduced from their sources (NVD, FIRST EPSS). Risk Priority is our own derived reading, not an NVD score.
Summary
CVE-2026-32060 is a high-severity Path Traversal (CWE-22) vulnerability in Openclaw Openclaw. Its CVSS base score is 8.7 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked in the top 48% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to AC-3 (Access Enforcement) and SI-10 (Information Input Validation) — see the control section below for these in your framework.
Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary
Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.
CVE-2026-32060 is a path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22) affecting OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.14, specifically in the apply_patch component. This flaw allows attackers to write or delete files outside the configured workspace directory by exploiting crafted paths that include directory traversal sequences or absolute paths. The vulnerability arises when apply_patch is enabled without filesystem sandbox containment, enabling escape of workspace boundaries. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) and was published on 2026-03-11.
Attackers with low privileges, such as authenticated users with network access to the system, can exploit this vulnerability remotely with low complexity and no user interaction required. By supplying malicious paths to apply_patch, they can modify arbitrary files on the filesystem, potentially leading to full system compromise through data exfiltration, persistence, or disruption of critical services.
Mitigation is addressed in the OpenClaw GitHub security advisory (GHSA-r5fq-947m-xm57) and a related commit (5544646a09c0121fca7d7093812dc2de8437c7f1) that patches the issue; users should upgrade to OpenClaw 2026.2.14 or later. Additional details are available in the VulnCheck advisory on the path traversal via crafted paths. Disabling apply_patch or enabling filesystem sandboxing provides interim protection.
OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2026-11150
Vulnerability Data
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.14 contain a path traversal vulnerability in apply_patch that allows attackers to write or delete files outside the configured workspace directory. When apply_patch is enabled without filesystem sandbox containment, attackers can exploit crafted paths including directory…
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traversal sequences or absolute paths to escape workspace boundaries and modify arbitrary files.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Control response
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V5.3.2
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Enforces the intended directory access authorizations that path traversal would otherwise bypass.
Input validation directly neutralizes special path elements before pathname construction occurs.
Least privilege reduces the impact of any unauthorized file access obtained via traversal.
Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Patching/maintenance can remediate known path-traversal flaws in deployed software (partial prevention of exploitability) but does nothing to stop the coding defect from being introduced in the first place.
PR.AA-05 defines and reviews access policies but does not address code-level pathname neutralization, so neither direction prevents CWE-22.
Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Security testing in development catches path traversal via static/dynamic analysis.
Secure SDLC mandates input validation and path sanitization that directly prevent path traversal.
Application security requirements include rules for safe file handling and canonicalization.
Secure architecture principles require least-privilege file access and directory isolation.
Secure coding standards explicitly forbid unsafe path construction and mandate safe APIs.
Information access restriction limits which files an application may read or write.