OpenClaw < 2026.3.2 - Path Confinement Bypass in Browser Output and File Write Operations

@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai
 ### Fixes
 
 - Sandbox/Bootstrap context boundary hardening: reject symlink/hardlink alias bootstrap seed files that resolve outside the source workspace and switch post-compaction `AGENTS.md` context reads to boundary-verified file opens, preventing host file content from being injected via workspace aliasing. Thanks @tdjackey for reporting.
+- Browser/Security output boundary hardening: replace check-then-rename output commits with root-bound fd-verified writes, unify install/skills canonical path-boundary checks, and add regression coverage for symlink-rebind race paths across browser output and shared fs-safe write flows. Thanks @tdjackey for reporting.
 - Gateway/Security hardening: tie loopback-origin dev allowance to actual local socket clients (not Host header claims), add explicit warnings/metrics when `gateway.controlUi.dangerouslyAllowHostHeaderOriginFallback` accepts websocket origins, harden safe-regex detection for quantified ambiguous alternation patterns (for example `(a|aa)+`), and bound large regex-evaluation inputs for session-filter and log-redaction paths.
 - Tests/Sandbox + archive portability: use junction-compatible directory-link setup on Windows and explicit file-symlink platform guards in symlink escape tests where unprivileged file symlinks are unavailable, reducing false Windows CI failures while preserving traversal checks on supported paths. (#28747) Thanks @arosstale.
 - Security/Skills archive extraction: unify tar extraction safety checks across tar.gz and tar.bz2 install flows, enforce tar compressed-size limits, and fail closed if tar.bz2 archives change between preflight and extraction to prevent bypasses of entry-type/size guardrails. Thanks @GCXWLP for reporting.

@@ -170,6 +170,11 @@ class SandboxFsBridgeImpl implements SandboxFsBridge {
       Boolean,
     );
     const rmCommand = flags.length > 0 ? `rm ${flags.join(" ")}` : "rm";
+    await this.assertPathSafety(target, {
+      action: "remove files",
+      requireWritable: true,
+      aliasPolicy: PATH_ALIAS_POLICIES.unlinkTarget,
+    });
     await this.runCommand(`set -eu; ${rmCommand} -- "$1"`, {
       args: [target.containerPath],
       signal: params.signal,
@@ -195,6 +200,15 @@ class SandboxFsBridgeImpl implements SandboxFsBridge {
       action: "rename files",
       requireWritable: true,
     });
+    await this.assertPathSafety(from, {
+      action: "rename files",
+      requireWritable: true,
+      aliasPolicy: PATH_ALIAS_POLICIES.unlinkTarget,
+    });
+    await this.assertPathSafety(to, {
+      action: "rename files",
+      requireWritable: true,
+    });
     await this.runCommand(
       'set -eu; dir=$(dirname -- "$2"); if [ "$dir" != "." ]; then mkdir -p -- "$dir"; fi; mv -- "$1" "$2"',
       {

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { createHash } from "node:crypto";
+import { createHash, randomUUID } from "node:crypto";
 import fs from "node:fs";
 import path from "node:path";
 import { Readable } from "node:stream";
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ import {
   createTarEntrySafetyChecker,
   extractArchive as extractArchiveSafe,
 } from "../infra/archive.js";
+import { writeFileFromPathWithinRoot } from "../infra/fs-safe.js";
+import { assertCanonicalPathWithinBase } from "../infra/install-safe-path.js";
 import { fetchWithSsrFGuard } from "../infra/net/fetch-guard.js";
 import { isWithinDir } from "../infra/path-safety.js";
 import { runCommandWithTimeout } from "../process/exec.js";
@@ -157,29 +159,44 @@ async function hashFileSha256(filePath: string): Promise<string> {
   });
 }
 
-async function downloadFile(
-  url: string,
-  destPath: string,
-  timeoutMs: number,
-): Promise<{ bytes: number }> {
+async function downloadFile(params: {
+  url: string;
+  rootDir: string;
+  relativePath: string;
+  timeoutMs: number;
+}): Promise<{ bytes: number }> {
+  const destPath = path.resolve(params.rootDir, params.relativePath);
+  const stagingDir = path.join(params.rootDir, ".openclaw-download-staging");
+  await ensureDir(stagingDir);
+  await assertCanonicalPathWithinBase({
+    baseDir: params.rootDir,
+    candidatePath: stagingDir,
+    boundaryLabel: "skill tools directory",
+  });
+  const tempPath = path.join(stagingDir, `${randomUUID()}.tmp`);
   const { response, release } = await fetchWithSsrFGuard({
-    url,
-    timeoutMs: Math.max(1_000, timeoutMs),
+    url: params.url,
+    timeoutMs: Math.max(1_000, params.timeoutMs),
   });
   try {
     if (!response.ok || !response.body) {
       throw new Error(`Download failed (${response.status} ${response.statusText})`);
     }
-    await ensureDir(path.dirname(destPath));
-    const file = fs.createWriteStream(destPath);
+    const file = fs.createWriteStream(tempPath);
     const body = response.body as unknown;
     const readable = isNodeReadableStream(body)
       ? body
       : Readable.fromWeb(body as NodeReadableStream);
     await pipeline(readable, file);
+    await writeFileFromPathWithinRoot({
+      rootDir: params.rootDir,
+      relativePath: params.relativePath,
+      sourcePath: tempPath,
+    });
     const stat = await fs.promises.stat(destPath);
     return { bytes: stat.size };
   } finally {
+    await fs.promises.rm(tempPath, { force: true }).catch(() => undefined);
     await release();
   }
 }
@@ -309,6 +326,7 @@ export async function installDownloadSpec(params: {
   timeoutMs: number;
 }): Promise<SkillInstallResult> {
   const { entry, spec, timeoutMs } = params;
+  const safeRoot = resolveSkillToolsRootDir(entry);
   const url = spec.url?.trim();
   if (!url) {
     return {
@@ -335,22 +353,40 @@ export async function installDownloadSpec(params: {
   try {
     targetDir = resolveDownloadTargetDir(entry, spec);
     await ensureDir(targetDir);
-    const stat = await fs.promises.lstat(targetDir);
-    if (stat.isSymbolicLink()) {
-      throw new Error(`targetDir is a symlink: ${targetDir}`);
-    }
-    if (!stat.isDirectory()) {
-      throw new Error(`targetDir is not a directory: ${targetDir}`);
-    }
+    await assertCanonicalPathWithinBase({
+      baseDir: safeRoot,
+      candidatePath: targetDir,
+      boundaryLabel: "skill tools directory",
+    });
   } catch (err) {
     const message = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
     return { ok: false, message, stdout: "", stderr: message, code: null };
   }
 
   const archivePath = path.join(targetDir, filename);
+  const archiveRelativePath = path.relative(safeRoot, archivePath);
+  if (
+    !archiveRelativePath ||
+    archiveRelativePath === ".." ||
+    archiveRelativePath.startsWith(`..${path.sep}`) ||
+    path.isAbsolute(archiveRelativePath)
+  ) {
+    return {
+      ok: false,
+      message: "invalid download archive path",
+      stdout: "",
+      stderr: "invalid download archive path",
+      code: null,
+    };
+  }
   let downloaded = 0;
   try {
-    const result = await downloadFile(url, archivePath, timeoutMs);
+    const result = await downloadFile({
+      url,
+      rootDir: safeRoot,
+      relativePath: archiveRelativePath,
+      timeoutMs,
+    });
     downloaded = result.bytes;
   } catch (err) {
     const message = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
@@ -379,6 +415,17 @@ export async function installDownloadSpec(params: {
     };
   }
 
+  try {
+    await assertCanonicalPathWithinBase({
+      baseDir: safeRoot,
+      candidatePath: targetDir,
+      boundaryLabel: "skill tools directory",
+    });
+  } catch (err) {
+    const message = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+    return { ok: false, message, stdout: "", stderr: message, code: null };
+  }
+
   const extractResult = await extractArchive({
     archivePath,
     archiveType,

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import crypto from "node:crypto";
 import fs from "node:fs/promises";
 import path from "node:path";
+import { writeFileFromPathWithinRoot } from "../infra/fs-safe.js";
 import { sanitizeUntrustedFileName } from "./safe-filename.js";
 
 function buildSiblingTempPath(targetPath: string): string {
@@ -10,15 +11,31 @@ function buildSiblingTempPath(targetPath: string): string {
 }
 
 export async function writeViaSiblingTempPath(params: {
+  rootDir: string;
   targetPath: string;
   writeTemp: (tempPath: string) => Promise<void>;
 }): Promise<void> {
+  const rootDir = path.resolve(params.rootDir);
   const targetPath = path.resolve(params.targetPath);
+  const relativeTargetPath = path.relative(rootDir, targetPath);
+  if (
+    !relativeTargetPath ||
+    relativeTargetPath === ".." ||
+    relativeTargetPath.startsWith(`..${path.sep}`) ||
+    path.isAbsolute(relativeTargetPath)
+  ) {
+    throw new Error("Target path is outside the allowed root");
+  }
   const tempPath = buildSiblingTempPath(targetPath);
   let renameSucceeded = false;
   try {
     await params.writeTemp(tempPath);
-    await fs.rename(tempPath, targetPath);
+    await writeFileFromPathWithinRoot({
+      rootDir,
+      relativePath: relativeTargetPath,
+      sourcePath: tempPath,
+      mkdir: false,
+    });
     renameSucceeded = true;
   } finally {
     if (!renameSucceeded) {

@@ -4,7 +4,11 @@ import path from "node:path";
 import type { Page } from "playwright-core";
 import { resolvePreferredOpenClawTmpDir } from "../infra/tmp-openclaw-dir.js";
 import { writeViaSiblingTempPath } from "./output-atomic.js";
-import { DEFAULT_UPLOAD_DIR, resolveStrictExistingPathsWithinRoot } from "./paths.js";
+import {
+  DEFAULT_DOWNLOAD_DIR,
+  DEFAULT_UPLOAD_DIR,
+  resolveStrictExistingPathsWithinRoot,
+} from "./paths.js";
 import {
   ensurePageState,
   getPageForTargetId,
@@ -92,6 +96,7 @@ async function saveDownloadPayload(download: DownloadPayload, outPath: string) {
     await download.saveAs?.(resolvedOutPath);
   } else {
     await writeViaSiblingTempPath({
+      rootDir: DEFAULT_DOWNLOAD_DIR,
       targetPath: resolvedOutPath,
       writeTemp: async (tempPath) => {
         await download.saveAs?.(tempPath);

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { writeViaSiblingTempPath } from "./output-atomic.js";
+import { DEFAULT_TRACE_DIR } from "./paths.js";
 import { ensureContextState, getPageForTargetId } from "./pw-session.js";
 
 export async function traceStartViaPlaywright(opts: {
@@ -34,6 +35,7 @@ export async function traceStopViaPlaywright(opts: {
     throw new Error("No active trace. Start a trace before stopping it.");
   }
   await writeViaSiblingTempPath({
+    rootDir: DEFAULT_TRACE_DIR,
     targetPath: opts.path,
     writeTemp: async (tempPath) => {
       await context.tracing.stop({ path: tempPath });

@@ -8,7 +8,11 @@ import {
   resolveTimedInstallModeOptions,
 } from "../infra/install-mode-options.js";
 import { installPackageDir } from "../infra/install-package-dir.js";
-import { resolveSafeInstallDir, unscopedPackageName } from "../infra/install-safe-path.js";
+import {
+  assertCanonicalPathWithinBase,
+  resolveSafeInstallDir,
+  unscopedPackageName,
+} from "../infra/install-safe-path.js";
 import {
   type NpmIntegrityDrift,
   type NpmSpecResolution,
@@ -112,6 +116,15 @@ async function resolveInstallTargetDir(
   if (!targetDirResult.ok) {
     return { ok: false, error: targetDirResult.error };
   }
+  try {
+    await assertCanonicalPathWithinBase({
+      baseDir: baseHooksDir,
+      candidatePath: targetDirResult.path,
+      boundaryLabel: "hooks directory",
+    });
+  } catch (err) {
+    return { ok: false, error: err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err) };
+  }
   return { ok: true, targetDir: targetDirResult.path };
 }
 
@@ -289,25 +302,18 @@ async function installHookFromDir(params: {
     return { ok: true, hookPackId: hookName, hooks: [hookName], targetDir };
   }
 
-  logger.info?.(`Installing to ${targetDir}…`);
-  let backupDir: string | null = null;
-  if (mode === "update" && (await fileExists(targetDir))) {
-    backupDir = `${targetDir}.backup-${Date.now()}`;
-    await fs.rename(targetDir, backupDir);
-  }
-
-  try {
-    await fs.cp(params.hookDir, targetDir, { recursive: true });
-  } catch (err) {
-    if (backupDir) {
-      await fs.rm(targetDir, { recursive: true, force: true }).catch(() => undefined);
-      await fs.rename(backupDir, targetDir).catch(() => undefined);
-    }
-    return { ok: false, error: `failed to copy hook: ${String(err)}` };
-  }
-
-  if (backupDir) {
-    await fs.rm(backupDir, { recursive: true, force: true }).catch(() => undefined);
+  const installRes = await installPackageDir({
+    sourceDir: params.hookDir,
+    targetDir,
+    mode,
+    timeoutMs: 120_000,
+    logger,
+    copyErrorPrefix: "failed to copy hook",
+    hasDeps: false,
+    depsLogMessage: "Installing hook dependencies…",
+  });
+  if (!installRes.ok) {
+    return installRes;
   }
 
   return { ok: true, hookPackId: hookName, hooks: [hookName], targetDir };

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import {
   readPathWithinRoot,
   readLocalFileSafely,
   writeFileWithinRoot,
+  writeFileFromPathWithinRoot,
 } from "./fs-safe.js";
 
 const tempDirs = createTrackedTempDirs();
@@ -213,6 +214,20 @@ describe("fs-safe", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  it("writes a file within root from another local source path safely", async () => {
+    const root = await tempDirs.make("openclaw-fs-safe-root-");
+    const outside = await tempDirs.make("openclaw-fs-safe-src-");
+    const sourcePath = path.join(outside, "source.bin");
+    await fs.writeFile(sourcePath, "hello-from-source");
+    await writeFileFromPathWithinRoot({
+      rootDir: root,
+      relativePath: "nested/from-source.txt",
+      sourcePath,
+    });
+    await expect(fs.readFile(path.join(root, "nested", "from-source.txt"), "utf8")).resolves.toBe(
+      "hello-from-source",
+    );
+  });
   it("rejects write traversal outside root", async () => {
     const root = await tempDirs.make("openclaw-fs-safe-root-");
     await expect(
@@ -295,6 +310,49 @@ describe("fs-safe", () => {
     },
   );
 
+  it.runIf(process.platform !== "win32")(
+    "does not clobber out-of-root file when symlink retarget races write-from-path open",
+    async () => {
+      const root = await tempDirs.make("openclaw-fs-safe-root-");
+      const inside = path.join(root, "inside");
+      const outside = await tempDirs.make("openclaw-fs-safe-outside-");
+      const sourceDir = await tempDirs.make("openclaw-fs-safe-source-");
+      const sourcePath = path.join(sourceDir, "source.txt");
+      await fs.writeFile(sourcePath, "new-content");
+      await fs.mkdir(inside, { recursive: true });
+      const outsideTarget = path.join(outside, "target.txt");
+      await fs.writeFile(outsideTarget, "X".repeat(4096));
+      const slot = path.join(root, "slot");
+      await fs.symlink(inside, slot);
+
+      const realRealpath = fs.realpath.bind(fs);
+      let flipped = false;
+      const realpathSpy = vi.spyOn(fs, "realpath").mockImplementation(async (...args) => {
+        const [filePath] = args;
+        if (!flipped && String(filePath).endsWith(path.join("slot", "target.txt"))) {
+          flipped = true;
+          await fs.rm(slot, { recursive: true, force: true });
+          await fs.symlink(outside, slot);
+        }
+        return await realRealpath(...args);
+      });
+      try {
+        await expect(
+          writeFileFromPathWithinRoot({
+            rootDir: root,
+            relativePath: path.join("slot", "target.txt"),
+            sourcePath,
+            mkdir: false,
+          }),
+        ).rejects.toMatchObject({ code: "outside-workspace" });
+      } finally {
+        realpathSpy.mockRestore();
+      }
+
+      await expect(fs.readFile(outsideTarget, "utf8")).resolves.toBe("X".repeat(4096));
+    },
+  );
+
   it.runIf(process.platform !== "win32")(
     "cleans up created out-of-root file when symlink retarget races create path",
     async () => {

@@ -464,3 +464,115 @@ export async function copyFileWithinRoot(params: {
     }
   }
 }
+
+export async function writeFileFromPathWithinRoot(params: {
+  rootDir: string;
+  relativePath: string;
+  sourcePath: string;
+  mkdir?: boolean;
+}): Promise<void> {
+  const { rootReal, rootWithSep, resolved } = await resolvePathWithinRoot(params);
+  try {
+    await assertNoPathAliasEscape({
+      absolutePath: resolved,
+      rootPath: rootReal,
+      boundaryLabel: "root",
+    });
+  } catch (err) {
+    throw new SafeOpenError("invalid-path", "path alias escape blocked", { cause: err });
+  }
+  if (params.mkdir !== false) {
+    await fs.mkdir(path.dirname(resolved), { recursive: true });
+  }
+
+  const source = await openVerifiedLocalFile(params.sourcePath, { rejectHardlinks: true });
+  let ioPath = resolved;
+  try {
+    const resolvedRealPath = await fs.realpath(resolved);
+    if (!isPathInside(rootWithSep, resolvedRealPath)) {
+      throw new SafeOpenError("outside-workspace", "file is outside workspace root");
+    }
+    ioPath = resolvedRealPath;
+  } catch (err) {
+    if (err instanceof SafeOpenError) {
+      await source.handle.close().catch(() => {});
+      throw err;
+    }
+    if (!isNotFoundPathError(err)) {
+      await source.handle.close().catch(() => {});
+      throw err;
+    }
+  }
+
+  let handle: FileHandle;
+  let createdForWrite = false;
+  try {
+    try {
+      handle = await fs.open(ioPath, OPEN_WRITE_EXISTING_FLAGS, 0o600);
+    } catch (err) {
+      if (!isNotFoundPathError(err)) {
+        throw err;
+      }
+      handle = await fs.open(ioPath, OPEN_WRITE_CREATE_FLAGS, 0o600);
+      createdForWrite = true;
+    }
+  } catch (err) {
+    await source.handle.close().catch(() => {});
+    if (isNotFoundPathError(err)) {
+      throw new SafeOpenError("not-found", "file not found");
+    }
+    if (isSymlinkOpenError(err)) {
+      throw new SafeOpenError("invalid-path", "symlink open blocked", { cause: err });
+    }
+    throw err;
+  }
+
+  let openedRealPath: string | null = null;
+  try {
+    const [stat, lstat] = await Promise.all([handle.stat(), fs.lstat(ioPath)]);
+    if (lstat.isSymbolicLink() || !stat.isFile()) {
+      throw new SafeOpenError("invalid-path", "path is not a regular file under root");
+    }
+    if (stat.nlink > 1) {
+      throw new SafeOpenError("invalid-path", "hardlinked path not allowed");
+    }
+    if (!sameFileIdentity(stat, lstat)) {
+      throw new SafeOpenError("path-mismatch", "path changed during write");
+    }
+
+    const realPath = await fs.realpath(ioPath);
+    openedRealPath = realPath;
+    const realStat = await fs.stat(realPath);
+    if (!sameFileIdentity(stat, realStat)) {
+      throw new SafeOpenError("path-mismatch", "path mismatch");
+    }
+    if (realStat.nlink > 1) {
+      throw new SafeOpenError("invalid-path", "hardlinked path not allowed");
+    }
+    if (!isPathInside(rootWithSep, realPath)) {
+      throw new SafeOpenError("outside-workspace", "file is outside workspace root");
+    }
+
+    if (!createdForWrite) {
+      await handle.truncate(0);
+    }
+    const chunk = Buffer.allocUnsafe(64 * 1024);
+    let sourceOffset = 0;
+    while (true) {
+      const { bytesRead } = await source.handle.read(chunk, 0, chunk.length, sourceOffset);
+      if (bytesRead <= 0) {
+        break;
+      }
+      await handle.write(chunk.subarray(0, bytesRead), 0, bytesRead, null);
+      sourceOffset += bytesRead;
+    }
+  } catch (err) {
+    if (createdForWrite && err instanceof SafeOpenError && openedRealPath) {
+      await fs.rm(openedRealPath, { force: true }).catch(() => {});
+    }
+    throw err;
+  } finally {
+    await source.handle.close().catch(() => {});
+    await handle.close().catch(() => {});
+  }
+}

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import fs from "node:fs/promises";
 import path from "node:path";
 import { runCommandWithTimeout } from "../process/exec.js";
 import { fileExists } from "./archive.js";
+import { assertCanonicalPathWithinBase } from "./install-safe-path.js";
 
 function isObjectRecord(value: unknown): value is Record<string, unknown> {
   return Boolean(value) && typeof value === "object" && !Array.isArray(value);
@@ -60,23 +61,50 @@ export async function installPackageDir(params: {
   afterCopy?: () => void | Promise<void>;
 }): Promise<{ ok: true } | { ok: false; error: string }> {
   params.logger?.info?.(`Installing to ${params.targetDir}…`);
+  const installBaseDir = path.dirname(params.targetDir);
+  await fs.mkdir(installBaseDir, { recursive: true });
+  await assertCanonicalPathWithinBase({
+    baseDir: installBaseDir,
+    candidatePath: params.targetDir,
+    boundaryLabel: "install directory",
+  });
   let backupDir: string | null = null;
   if (params.mode === "update" && (await fileExists(params.targetDir))) {
     const backupRoot = path.join(path.dirname(params.targetDir), ".openclaw-install-backups");
     backupDir = path.join(backupRoot, `${path.basename(params.targetDir)}-${Date.now()}`);
     await fs.mkdir(backupRoot, { recursive: true });
+    await assertCanonicalPathWithinBase({
+      baseDir: installBaseDir,
+      candidatePath: backupDir,
+      boundaryLabel: "install directory",
+    });
     await fs.rename(params.targetDir, backupDir);
   }
 
   const rollback = async () => {
     if (!backupDir) {
       return;
     }
+    await assertCanonicalPathWithinBase({
+      baseDir: installBaseDir,
+      candidatePath: params.targetDir,
+      boundaryLabel: "install directory",
+    });
+    await assertCanonicalPathWithinBase({
+      baseDir: installBaseDir,
+      candidatePath: backupDir,
+      boundaryLabel: "install directory",
+    });
     await fs.rm(params.targetDir, { recursive: true, force: true }).catch(() => undefined);
     await fs.rename(backupDir, params.targetDir).catch(() => undefined);
   };
 
   try {
+    await assertCanonicalPathWithinBase({
+      baseDir: installBaseDir,
+      candidatePath: params.targetDir,
+      boundaryLabel: "install directory",
+    });
     await fs.cp(params.sourceDir, params.targetDir, { recursive: true });
   } catch (err) {
     await rollback();

@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
+import fs from "node:fs/promises";
+import os from "node:os";
+import path from "node:path";
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
-import { safePathSegmentHashed } from "./install-safe-path.js";
+import { assertCanonicalPathWithinBase, safePathSegmentHashed } from "./install-safe-path.js";
 
 describe("safePathSegmentHashed", () => {
   it("keeps safe names unchanged", () => {
@@ -20,3 +23,44 @@ describe("safePathSegmentHashed", () => {
     expect(result).toMatch(/-[a-f0-9]{10}$/);
   });
 });
+
+describe("assertCanonicalPathWithinBase", () => {
+  it("accepts in-base directories", async () => {
+    const baseDir = await fs.mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "openclaw-install-safe-"));
+    try {
+      const candidate = path.join(baseDir, "tools");
+      await fs.mkdir(candidate, { recursive: true });
+      await expect(
+        assertCanonicalPathWithinBase({
+          baseDir,
+          candidatePath: candidate,
+          boundaryLabel: "install directory",
+        }),
+      ).resolves.toBeUndefined();
+    } finally {
+      await fs.rm(baseDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
+
+  it.runIf(process.platform !== "win32")(
+    "rejects symlinked candidate directories that escape the base",
+    async () => {
+      const baseDir = await fs.mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "openclaw-install-safe-"));
+      const outsideDir = await fs.mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "openclaw-install-safe-outside-"));
+      try {
+        const linkDir = path.join(baseDir, "alias");
+        await fs.symlink(outsideDir, linkDir);
+        await expect(
+          assertCanonicalPathWithinBase({
+            baseDir,
+            candidatePath: linkDir,
+            boundaryLabel: "install directory",
+          }),
+        ).rejects.toThrow(/must stay within install directory/i);
+      } finally {
+        await fs.rm(baseDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+        await fs.rm(outsideDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+      }
+    },
+  );
+});

@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 import { createHash } from "node:crypto";
+import fs from "node:fs/promises";
 import path from "node:path";
+import { isPathInside } from "./path-guards.js";
 
 export function unscopedPackageName(name: string): string {
   const trimmed = name.trim();
@@ -60,3 +62,43 @@ export function resolveSafeInstallDir(params: {
   }
   return { ok: true, path: targetDir };
 }
+
+export async function assertCanonicalPathWithinBase(params: {
+  baseDir: string;
+  candidatePath: string;
+  boundaryLabel: string;
+}): Promise<void> {
+  const baseDir = path.resolve(params.baseDir);
+  const candidatePath = path.resolve(params.candidatePath);
+  if (!isPathInside(baseDir, candidatePath)) {
+    throw new Error(`Invalid path: must stay within ${params.boundaryLabel}`);
+  }
+
+  const baseLstat = await fs.lstat(baseDir);
+  if (!baseLstat.isDirectory() || baseLstat.isSymbolicLink()) {
+    throw new Error(`Invalid ${params.boundaryLabel}: base directory must be a real directory`);
+  }
+  const baseRealPath = await fs.realpath(baseDir);
+
+  const validateDirectory = async (dirPath: string): Promise<void> => {
+    const dirLstat = await fs.lstat(dirPath);
+    if (!dirLstat.isDirectory() || dirLstat.isSymbolicLink()) {
+      throw new Error(`Invalid path: must stay within ${params.boundaryLabel}`);
+    }
+    const dirRealPath = await fs.realpath(dirPath);
+    if (!isPathInside(baseRealPath, dirRealPath)) {
+      throw new Error(`Invalid path: must stay within ${params.boundaryLabel}`);
+    }
+  };
+
+  try {
+    await validateDirectory(candidatePath);
+    return;
+  } catch (err) {
+    const code = (err as { code?: string }).code;
+    if (code !== "ENOENT") {
+      throw err;
+    }
+  }
+  await validateDirectory(path.dirname(candidatePath));
+}

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import {
 } from "../infra/install-mode-options.js";
 import { installPackageDir } from "../infra/install-package-dir.js";
 import {
+  assertCanonicalPathWithinBase,
   resolveSafeInstallDir,
   safeDirName,
   unscopedPackageName,
@@ -234,6 +235,15 @@ async function installPluginFromPackageDir(params: {
     return { ok: false, error: targetDirResult.error };
   }
   const targetDir = targetDirResult.path;
+  try {
+    await assertCanonicalPathWithinBase({
+      baseDir: extensionsDir,
+      candidatePath: targetDir,
+      boundaryLabel: "extensions directory",
+    });
+  } catch (err) {
+    return { ok: false, error: err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err) };
+  }
 
   if (mode === "install" && (await fileExists(targetDir))) {
     return {