CVE-2026-102806 in OpenClaw
Summary
by MITRE • 09/29/2026
OpenClaw before 2026.9.5 contains an incorrect authorization vulnerability in the Gateway's local media root allowlist that breaks filesystem isolation between sandboxed sessions. Sandboxed sessions or untrusted content can cause the Gateway to read files from sibling session sandboxes or shared workspace directories through media pipeline functions that fail to restrict reads to the active session.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/29/2026
The vulnerability identified in OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.9.5 represents a critical failure in access control mechanisms within the Gateway component, specifically concerning the local media root allowlist. This flaw fundamentally undermines the principle of least privilege and filesystem isolation that is essential for maintaining security boundaries between distinct user sessions or sandboxed environments. The core issue lies in the improper authorization logic governing how the system validates file paths against a whitelist intended to restrict access to specific directories. Instead of strictly enforcing session-specific boundaries, the implementation allows requests originating from one sandboxed context to traverse into and read files belonging to sibling sandboxes or shared workspace directories that should remain inaccessible.
From a technical perspective, this defect manifests through media pipeline functions that process file input without adequately verifying whether the requested resource belongs exclusively to the active user session. In typical secure architectures, each sandboxed environment operates with an isolated view of the filesystem, often chrooted or restricted via namespace isolation techniques. However, in this vulnerable implementation, the allowlist mechanism fails to account for path traversal or context switching errors, permitting the Gateway to resolve file paths that escape the intended directory scope. This lack of strict validation allows untrusted content or malicious actors operating within a sandboxed session to construct requests that reference files outside their designated boundary, effectively bypassing isolation controls designed to prevent cross-session data leakage.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, primarily centering on unauthorized information disclosure and potential compromise of sensitive data integrity. An attacker who gains access to any single sandboxed environment or untrusted content execution context can exploit this flaw to read arbitrary files from other sessions running concurrently on the same system. This could include personal user documents, configuration files containing credentials, proprietary source code, or other confidential assets stored in shared workspace directories. The ability to exfiltrate data across session boundaries erodes trust in multi-tenant environments and violates fundamental security requirements for isolation between users or processes sharing computational resources.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes Improper Access Control, as the system fails to enforce proper restrictions on authorized individuals accessing specific information. Furthermore, it relates closely to CWE-732, concerning Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource, because the underlying file access permissions are not correctly scoped to the executing context. In terms of offensive security frameworks such as MITRE ATT&CK, this behavior facilitates lateral movement and data staging within a compromised environment by allowing an adversary to pivot from one sandboxed session to another without requiring additional privilege escalation exploits. The attack vector is typically classified under T1083, File and Directory Discovery, where the attacker enumerates accessible paths beyond their intended scope to locate valuable targets for exfiltration via techniques associated with Exfiltration Over C2 Channels or Unsecured Protocols depending on how the retrieved data is transmitted out of the system.
Mitigation strategies must prioritize immediate patching to version 2026.9.5 or later, where these authorization checks have been corrected to enforce strict session-boundary validation for all media pipeline operations. In addition to updating software, administrators should implement defense-in-depth measures such as enforcing mandatory access control policies using tools like SELinux or AppArmor to restrict file system interactions at the kernel level regardless of application-level flaws. Network segmentation and micro-segmentation can also limit the blast radius if a sandbox is compromised by ensuring that lateral movement between sessions remains blocked even if filesystem isolation fails. Regular auditing of allowlist configurations and rigorous code reviews focusing on path resolution logic are essential to prevent similar access control bypasses in future development cycles, ensuring that all external inputs interacting with file systems undergo strict validation against expected session contexts before processing occurs.