Security Digest · Vulnerability record
CVE-2026-41296: OpenClaw: Sandbox escape via TOCTOU race in remote FS bridge readFile
OpenClaw before 2026.3.31 contains a time-of-check-time-of-use race condition in the remote filesystem bridge readFile function that allows sandbox escape.
CVSS 8.8 High EPSS 0.3% · p24
Should you act?
Normal patch cycle
No exploitation signal; fix it in your next routine update if you are affected. This signal is computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS data; it is not an editorial verdict.
- No confirmed exploitation. It is not in CISA’s KEV catalog and CISA’s SSVC assessment records no known exploitation. That can change quickly after a public write-up; re-check if you are affected.
- EPSS 0.3%, percentile 24: FIRST’s model estimates a 0.3% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 24% of all scored CVEs (low). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Needs an account (low (any account)). Exposure depends on who can log in.
- Only applies if your dependency tree includes
openclaw(npm) <= 2026.3.28, fixed in 2026.3.31. Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.
What it is
OpenClaw before 2026.3.31 contains a time-of-check-time-of-use race condition in the remote filesystem bridge readFile function that allows sandbox escape. Attackers can exploit the separate path validation and file read operations to bypass sandbox restrictions and read arbitrary files.
From the GitHub advisory
Summary Sandbox escape via TOCTOU race in remote FS bridge readFile
Current Maintainer Triage - Normalized severity: critical - Assessment: v2026.3.28 remote sandbox reads still do path-check then separate file read, so the TOCTOU sandbox escape remains present in the latest shipped tag.
Affected Packages / Versions - Package: openclaw (npm) - Latest published npm version: 2026.3.31 - Vulnerable version range: = 2026.3.31 - First stable tag containing the fix: v2026.3.31
Fix Commit(s) - 121870a08583033ed6a0ed73d9ffea32991252bb — 2026-03-31T09:55:51+09:00
OpenClaw thanks @AntAISecurityLab for reporting.
Weakness type: CWE-367.
Product: openclaw (npm) · Assigned by: VulnCheck · Published: 2026-04-20
Affected and fixed versions
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable | First fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm | openclaw | <= 2026.3.28 | 2026.3.31 |
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions (per CVE record) |
|---|---|---|
| OpenClaw | OpenClaw | < 2026.3.31 |
Severity scores
| Scored by | CVSS | Score | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| VulnCheck | 4.0 | 8.8 High | CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:H/SI:H/SA:N |
| VulnCheck | 3.1 | 8.2 High | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N |
| GitHub | 4.0 | 9.4 | CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H |
- Attack vector: network (remotely reachable)
- Attack complexity: high (needs special conditions)
- Attack requirements: none
- Privileges required: low (any account)
- User interaction: none
CVSS measures how bad a flaw is if exploited, not how likely exploitation is. Read it next to the exploitation data below.
Exploitation and urgency
- CISA KEV: not listed (no confirmed in-the-wild exploitation known to CISA).
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation none, automatable no, technical impact total.
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 0.33% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 24.
Timeline
- — GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-9p3r-hh9g-5cmg published (critical)
- — CVE record published by VulnCheck
- — CVE record last updated
Sources and references
Original sources first. Version and fix details should always be confirmed against the vendor or project advisory.
Vendor and project advisories, patches
- GitHub Security Advisory (GHSA-9p3r-hh9g-5cmg) github.com
- Patch Commit github.com
Vulnerability records
- GitHub Advisory GHSA-9p3r-hh9g-5cmg github.com
- CVE.org record CVE-2026-41296 cve.org
- NVD entry CVE-2026-41296 nvd.nist.gov