---
title: "CVE-2026-41296: OpenClaw: Sandbox escape via TOCTOU race in remote FS bridge readFile"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2026-41296/
description: "CVE-2026-41296 (openclaw (npm)): OpenClaw before 2026.3.31 contains a time-of-check-time-of-use race condition in the remote filesystem bridge readFile…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2026-04-20
date_modified: 2026-04-24
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2026-41296"
kev: false
cvss: 8.8
epss: 0.00326
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

# CVE-2026-41296: OpenClaw: Sandbox escape via TOCTOU race in remote FS bridge readFile

**Signal:** Normal patch cycle. No exploitation signal; fix it in your next routine update if you are affected. (Computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS; not an editorial verdict.)

## Should you act?

- 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.

## Affected packages

- npm `openclaw` <= 2026.3.28 → fixed: 2026.3.31

## Affected products (CVE record)

- OpenClaw OpenClaw: < 2026.3.31

## Severity

- VulnCheck CVSS 4.0: 8.8 `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 CVSS 3.1: 8.2 `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N`
- GitHub CVSS 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`

## Exploitation

- 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.

## Sources

- [GitHub Security Advisory (GHSA-9p3r-hh9g-5cmg)](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-9p3r-hh9g-5cmg)
- [Patch Commit](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/121870a08583033ed6a0ed73d9ffea32991252bb)
- [GitHub Advisory GHSA-9p3r-hh9g-5cmg](https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-9p3r-hh9g-5cmg)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2026-41296](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-41296)
- [NVD entry CVE-2026-41296](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-41296)
- [VulnCheck Advisory: OpenClaw < 2026.3.31 - Sandbox Escape via TOCTOU Race in Remote FS Bridge readFile](https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-sandbox-escape-via-toctou-race-in-remote-fs-bridge-readfile)
- [github.com](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/releases/tag/v2026.3.31)

---
Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2026-41296/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt