OpenClaw 2.0.0-beta3 < 2026.2.14 - Arbitrary JavaScript Module Loading via Hook Transform Path Traversal

@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@ Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai
 
 ### Fixes
 
-- Security/Hooks: restrict hook transform modules to `~/.openclaw/hooks/transforms` (prevents path traversal/escape module loads via config).
+- Security/Hooks: restrict hook transform modules to `~/.openclaw/hooks/transforms` (prevents path traversal/escape module loads via config). Thanks @akhmittra.
+- Security/Hooks: ignore hook package manifest entries that point outside the package directory (prevents out-of-tree handler loads during hook discovery).
 
 ## 2026.2.13
 

@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+import fs from "node:fs";
+import os from "node:os";
+import path from "node:path";
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { MANIFEST_KEY } from "../compat/legacy-names.js";
+import { loadHookEntriesFromDir } from "./workspace.js";
+
+describe("hooks workspace", () => {
+  it("ignores package.json hook paths that traverse outside package directory", () => {
+    const root = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "openclaw-hooks-workspace-"));
+    const hooksRoot = path.join(root, "hooks");
+    fs.mkdirSync(hooksRoot, { recursive: true });
+
+    const pkgDir = path.join(hooksRoot, "pkg");
+    fs.mkdirSync(pkgDir, { recursive: true });
+
+    const outsideHookDir = path.join(root, "outside");
+    fs.mkdirSync(outsideHookDir, { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(outsideHookDir, "HOOK.md"), "---\nname: outside\n---\n");
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(outsideHookDir, "handler.js"), "export default async () => {};\n");
+
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(pkgDir, "package.json"),
+      JSON.stringify(
+        {
+          name: "pkg",
+          [MANIFEST_KEY]: {
+            hooks: ["../outside"],
+          },
+        },
+        null,
+        2,
+      ),
+    );
+
+    const entries = loadHookEntriesFromDir({ dir: hooksRoot, source: "openclaw-workspace" });
+    expect(entries.some((e) => e.hook.name === "outside")).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("accepts package.json hook paths within package directory", () => {
+    const root = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "openclaw-hooks-workspace-ok-"));
+    const hooksRoot = path.join(root, "hooks");
+    fs.mkdirSync(hooksRoot, { recursive: true });
+
+    const pkgDir = path.join(hooksRoot, "pkg");
+    const nested = path.join(pkgDir, "nested");
+    fs.mkdirSync(nested, { recursive: true });
+
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(nested, "HOOK.md"), "---\nname: nested\n---\n");
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(nested, "handler.js"), "export default async () => {};\n");
+
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(pkgDir, "package.json"),
+      JSON.stringify(
+        {
+          name: "pkg",
+          [MANIFEST_KEY]: {
+            hooks: ["./nested"],
+          },
+        },
+        null,
+        2,
+      ),
+    );
+
+    const entries = loadHookEntriesFromDir({ dir: hooksRoot, source: "openclaw-workspace" });
+    expect(entries.some((e) => e.hook.name === "nested")).toBe(true);
+  });
+});

@@ -52,6 +52,16 @@ function resolvePackageHooks(manifest: HookPackageManifest): string[] {
   return raw.map((entry) => (typeof entry === "string" ? entry.trim() : "")).filter(Boolean);
 }
 
+function resolveContainedDir(baseDir: string, targetDir: string): string | null {
+  const base = path.resolve(baseDir);
+  const resolved = path.resolve(baseDir, targetDir);
+  const relative = path.relative(base, resolved);
+  if (relative === ".." || relative.startsWith(`..${path.sep}`) || path.isAbsolute(relative)) {
+    return null;
+  }
+  return resolved;
+}
+
 function loadHookFromDir(params: {
   hookDir: string;
   source: HookSource;
@@ -129,7 +139,13 @@ function loadHooksFromDir(params: { dir: string; source: HookSource; pluginId?:
 
     if (packageHooks.length > 0) {
       for (const hookPath of packageHooks) {
-        const resolvedHookDir = path.resolve(hookDir, hookPath);
+        const resolvedHookDir = resolveContainedDir(hookDir, hookPath);
+        if (!resolvedHookDir) {
+          console.warn(
+            `[hooks] Ignoring out-of-package hook path "${hookPath}" in ${hookDir} (must be within package directory)`,
+          );
+          continue;
+        }
         const hook = loadHookFromDir({
           hookDir: resolvedHookDir,
           source,

@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@
 
 Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai
 
+## Unreleased
+
+### Fixes
+
+- Security/Hooks: restrict hook transform modules to `~/.openclaw/hooks/transforms` (prevents path traversal/escape module loads via config).
+
 ## 2026.2.13
 
 ### Changes

@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ Notes:
   To disable (dangerous), set `hooks.gmail.allowUnsafeExternalContent: true`.
 
 To customize payload handling further, add `hooks.mappings` or a JS/TS transform module
-under `hooks.transformsDir` (see [Webhooks](/automation/webhook)).
+under `~/.openclaw/hooks/transforms` (see [Webhooks](/automation/webhook)).
 
 ## Wizard (recommended)
 

@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ Mapping options (summary):
 
 - `hooks.presets: ["gmail"]` enables the built-in Gmail mapping.
 - `hooks.mappings` lets you define `match`, `action`, and templates in config.
-- `hooks.transformsDir` + `transform.module` loads a JS/TS module for custom logic.
+- `hooks.transformsDir` + `transform.module` loads a JS/TS module for custom logic (restricted to `~/.openclaw/hooks/transforms`).
 - Use `match.source` to keep a generic ingest endpoint (payload-driven routing).
 - TS transforms require a TS loader (e.g. `bun` or `tsx`) or precompiled `.js` at runtime.
 - Set `deliver: true` + `channel`/`to` on mappings to route replies to a chat surface

@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ Save to `~/.openclaw/openclaw.json` and you can DM the bot from that number.
     path: "/hooks",
     token: "shared-secret",
     presets: ["gmail"],
-    transformsDir: "~/.openclaw/hooks",
+    transformsDir: "~/.openclaw/hooks/transforms",
     mappings: [
       {
         id: "gmail-hook",
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ Save to `~/.openclaw/openclaw.json` and you can DM the bot from that number.
         thinking: "low",
         timeoutSeconds: 300,
         transform: {
-          module: "./transforms/gmail.js",
+          module: "gmail.js",
           export: "transformGmail",
         },
       },

@@ -1987,7 +1987,7 @@ See [Multiple Gateways](/gateway/multiple-gateways).
     allowedSessionKeyPrefixes: ["hook:"],
     allowedAgentIds: ["hooks", "main"],
     presets: ["gmail"],
-    transformsDir: "~/.openclaw/hooks",
+    transformsDir: "~/.openclaw/hooks/transforms",
     mappings: [
       {
         match: { path: "gmail" },

@@ -62,24 +62,28 @@ describe("hooks mapping", () => {
   });
 
   it("runs transform module", async () => {
-    const dir = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "openclaw-hooks-"));
-    const modPath = path.join(dir, "transform.mjs");
+    const configDir = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "openclaw-config-"));
+    const transformsRoot = path.join(configDir, "hooks", "transforms");
+    fs.mkdirSync(transformsRoot, { recursive: true });
+    const modPath = path.join(transformsRoot, "transform.mjs");
     const placeholder = "${payload.name}";
     fs.writeFileSync(
       modPath,
       `export default ({ payload }) => ({ kind: "wake", text: \`Ping ${placeholder}\` });`,
     );
 
-    const mappings = resolveHookMappings({
-      transformsDir: dir,
-      mappings: [
-        {
-          match: { path: "custom" },
-          action: "agent",
-          transform: { module: "transform.mjs" },
-        },
-      ],
-    });
+    const mappings = resolveHookMappings(
+      {
+        mappings: [
+          {
+            match: { path: "custom" },
+            action: "agent",
+            transform: { module: "transform.mjs" },
+          },
+        ],
+      },
+      { configDir },
+    );
 
     const result = await applyHookMappings(mappings, {
       payload: { name: "Ada" },
@@ -97,22 +101,143 @@ describe("hooks mapping", () => {
     }
   });
 
-  it("treats null transform as a handled skip", async () => {
-    const dir = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "openclaw-hooks-skip-"));
-    const modPath = path.join(dir, "transform.mjs");
-    fs.writeFileSync(modPath, "export default () => null;");
+  it("rejects transform module traversal outside transformsDir", () => {
+    const configDir = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "openclaw-config-traversal-"));
+    const transformsRoot = path.join(configDir, "hooks", "transforms");
+    fs.mkdirSync(transformsRoot, { recursive: true });
+    expect(() =>
+      resolveHookMappings(
+        {
+          mappings: [
+            {
+              match: { path: "custom" },
+              action: "agent",
+              transform: { module: "../evil.mjs" },
+            },
+          ],
+        },
+        { configDir },
+      ),
+    ).toThrow(/must be within/);
+  });
 
-    const mappings = resolveHookMappings({
-      transformsDir: dir,
-      mappings: [
+  it("rejects absolute transform module path outside transformsDir", () => {
+    const configDir = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "openclaw-config-abs-"));
+    const transformsRoot = path.join(configDir, "hooks", "transforms");
+    fs.mkdirSync(transformsRoot, { recursive: true });
+    const outside = path.join(os.tmpdir(), "evil.mjs");
+    expect(() =>
+      resolveHookMappings(
         {
-          match: { path: "skip" },
-          action: "agent",
-          transform: { module: "transform.mjs" },
+          mappings: [
+            {
+              match: { path: "custom" },
+              action: "agent",
+              transform: { module: outside },
+            },
+          ],
         },
-      ],
+        { configDir },
+      ),
+    ).toThrow(/must be within/);
+  });
+
+  it("rejects transformsDir traversal outside the transforms root", () => {
+    const configDir = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "openclaw-config-xformdir-trav-"));
+    const transformsRoot = path.join(configDir, "hooks", "transforms");
+    fs.mkdirSync(transformsRoot, { recursive: true });
+    expect(() =>
+      resolveHookMappings(
+        {
+          transformsDir: "..",
+          mappings: [
+            {
+              match: { path: "custom" },
+              action: "agent",
+              transform: { module: "transform.mjs" },
+            },
+          ],
+        },
+        { configDir },
+      ),
+    ).toThrow(/Hook transformsDir/);
+  });
+
+  it("rejects transformsDir absolute path outside the transforms root", () => {
+    const configDir = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "openclaw-config-xformdir-abs-"));
+    const transformsRoot = path.join(configDir, "hooks", "transforms");
+    fs.mkdirSync(transformsRoot, { recursive: true });
+    expect(() =>
+      resolveHookMappings(
+        {
+          transformsDir: os.tmpdir(),
+          mappings: [
+            {
+              match: { path: "custom" },
+              action: "agent",
+              transform: { module: "transform.mjs" },
+            },
+          ],
+        },
+        { configDir },
+      ),
+    ).toThrow(/Hook transformsDir/);
+  });
+
+  it("accepts transformsDir subdirectory within the transforms root", async () => {
+    const configDir = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "openclaw-config-xformdir-ok-"));
+    const transformsSubdir = path.join(configDir, "hooks", "transforms", "subdir");
+    fs.mkdirSync(transformsSubdir, { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(transformsSubdir, "transform.mjs"), "export default () => null;");
+
+    const mappings = resolveHookMappings(
+      {
+        transformsDir: "subdir",
+        mappings: [
+          {
+            match: { path: "skip" },
+            action: "agent",
+            transform: { module: "transform.mjs" },
+          },
+        ],
+      },
+      { configDir },
+    );
+
+    const result = await applyHookMappings(mappings, {
+      payload: {},
+      headers: {},
+      url: new URL("http://127.0.0.1:18789/hooks/skip"),
+      path: "skip",
     });
 
+    expect(result?.ok).toBe(true);
+    if (result?.ok) {
+      expect(result.action).toBeNull();
+      expect("skipped" in result).toBe(true);
+    }
+  });
+
+  it("treats null transform as a handled skip", async () => {
+    const configDir = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "openclaw-config-skip-"));
+    const transformsRoot = path.join(configDir, "hooks", "transforms");
+    fs.mkdirSync(transformsRoot, { recursive: true });
+    const modPath = path.join(transformsRoot, "transform.mjs");
+    fs.writeFileSync(modPath, "export default () => null;");
+
+    const mappings = resolveHookMappings(
+      {
+        mappings: [
+          {
+            match: { path: "skip" },
+            action: "agent",
+            transform: { module: "transform.mjs" },
+          },
+        ],
+      },
+      { configDir },
+    );
+
     const result = await applyHookMappings(mappings, {
       payload: {},
       headers: {},

@@ -102,7 +102,10 @@ type HookTransformFn = (
   ctx: HookMappingContext,
 ) => HookTransformResult | Promise<HookTransformResult>;
 
-export function resolveHookMappings(hooks?: HooksConfig): HookMappingResolved[] {
+export function resolveHookMappings(
+  hooks?: HooksConfig,
+  opts?: { configDir?: string },
+): HookMappingResolved[] {
   const presets = hooks?.presets ?? [];
   const gmailAllowUnsafe = hooks?.gmail?.allowUnsafeExternalContent;
   const mappings: HookMappingConfig[] = [];
@@ -129,10 +132,13 @@ export function resolveHookMappings(hooks?: HooksConfig): HookMappingResolved[]
     return [];
   }
 
-  const configDir = path.dirname(CONFIG_PATH);
-  const transformsDir = hooks?.transformsDir
-    ? resolvePath(configDir, hooks.transformsDir)
-    : configDir;
+  const configDir = path.resolve(opts?.configDir ?? path.dirname(CONFIG_PATH));
+  const transformsRootDir = path.join(configDir, "hooks", "transforms");
+  const transformsDir = resolveOptionalContainedPath(
+    transformsRootDir,
+    hooks?.transformsDir,
+    "Hook transformsDir",
+  );
 
   return mappings.map((mapping, index) => normalizeHookMapping(mapping, index, transformsDir));
 }
@@ -187,7 +193,7 @@ function normalizeHookMapping(
   const wakeMode = mapping.wakeMode ?? "now";
   const transform = mapping.transform
     ? {
-        modulePath: resolvePath(transformsDir, mapping.transform.module),
+        modulePath: resolveContainedPath(transformsDir, mapping.transform.module, "Hook transform"),
         exportName: mapping.transform.export?.trim() || undefined,
       }
     : undefined;
@@ -340,12 +346,35 @@ function resolveTransformFn(mod: Record<string, unknown>, exportName?: string):
 
 function resolvePath(baseDir: string, target: string): string {
   if (!target) {
-    return baseDir;
+    return path.resolve(baseDir);
   }
-  if (path.isAbsolute(target)) {
-    return target;
+  return path.isAbsolute(target) ? path.resolve(target) : path.resolve(baseDir, target);
+}
+
+function resolveContainedPath(baseDir: string, target: string, label: string): string {
+  const base = path.resolve(baseDir);
+  const trimmed = target?.trim();
+  if (!trimmed) {
+    throw new Error(`${label} module path is required`);
+  }
+  const resolved = resolvePath(base, trimmed);
+  const relative = path.relative(base, resolved);
+  if (relative === ".." || relative.startsWith(`..${path.sep}`) || path.isAbsolute(relative)) {
+    throw new Error(`${label} module path must be within ${base}: ${target}`);
+  }
+  return resolved;
+}
+
+function resolveOptionalContainedPath(
+  baseDir: string,
+  target: string | undefined,
+  label: string,
+): string {
+  const trimmed = target?.trim();
+  if (!trimmed) {
+    return path.resolve(baseDir);
   }
-  return path.join(baseDir, target);
+  return resolveContainedPath(baseDir, trimmed, label);
 }
 
 function normalizeMatchPath(raw?: string): string | undefined {