OpenClaw hook transform path containment missed symlink-resolved escapes

Vulnerability

Webhook transform modules were validated with lexical path checks only. A symlink under the allowed hooks transform tree could resolve outside the intended directory and be dynamically imported.

Affected Packages / Versions

• Package: openclaw (npm)
• Affected versions: <= 2026.2.21-2
• Patched version (planned next release): 2026.2.22

Impact

When an attacker can cause a transform module path to reference a symlinked entry that resolves outside the trusted transform directory, the gateway may import and execute unintended JavaScript with gateway-process privileges.

Attack Preconditions

• Hook transforms are enabled and reachable.
• Attacker can influence transform path resolution (for example via privileged config access and/or writable filesystem path in the transform tree).
• A symlink escape exists to attacker-controlled code.

Remediation

• Enforce realpath-aware containment for existing path ancestors before dynamic import.
• Keep lexical containment checks for traversal and absolute-path escapes.
• Add regression coverage for:
  • transform module symlink escape rejection,
  • hooks.transformsDir symlink escape rejection,
  • in-root symlink allow-case.

Fix Commit(s)

• f4dd0577b055f77af783105bd65eae32f3d5e6a1

OpenClaw thanks @aether-ai-agent for reporting.