CVE-2026-32020
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.
Executive Summary
CVE-2026-32020 is a low severity vulnerability affecting ai-code, appsec. It is classified as CWE-59. Ensure your systems and dependencies are patched immediately to mitigate exposure risks.
Precogs AI Insight
"Precogs AI automatically detects AI-specific vulnerability patterns in LLM-generated code, identifying prompt injection vectors, model poisoning risks, and insecure inference endpoints before they reach production."
What is this vulnerability?
CVE-2026-32020 is categorized as a critical Path Traversal flaw. Based on our vulnerability intelligence, this issue occurs when the application fails to securely handle untrusted data boundaries.
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.22 contain a path traversal vulnerability in the static file handler that follows symbolic links, allowing out-of-root fi...
This architectural defect enables adversaries to bypass intended security controls, directly manipulating the application's execution state or data layer. Immediate strategic intervention is required.
Risk Assessment
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| CVSS Base Score | 3.3 (LOW) |
| Vector String | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N |
| Published | March 19, 2026 |
| Last Modified | March 20, 2026 |
| Related CWEs | CWE-59 |
Impact on Systems
✅ Sensitive File Disclosure: Unauthorized access to critical configuration files (/etc/passwd, .env files, private SSH keys).
✅ Application Source Leak: Attackers can download proprietary source code and hardcoded credentials.
✅ Remote Code Execution: By combining with log poisoning, attackers can write PHP/JSP shells into web-accessible directories.
How to fix this issue?
Implement the following strategic mitigations immediately to eliminate the attack surface.
1. Indirect References Avoid using direct file paths. Utilize indirect references (like database IDs) mapped to backend files.
2. Strict Path Resolution If direct paths are required, resolve the absolute path and rigorously verify the path starts with the expected base directory using native OS path resolving functions.
3. Chroot Jails Confine the application processes to highly restricted directory structures (chroot) with minimum readable boundaries.
Vulnerability Signature
// Vulnerable File Access
import os
def get_image(request):
filename = request.GET.get('file')
# VULNERABLE: No validation preventing moving upwards in the directory tree
filepath = os.path.join('/var/www/images/', filename)
return open(filepath, 'rb').read()
// EXPLOIT PAYLOAD: ?file=../../../../../../../../etc/passwd