OpenClaw < 2026.2.13 - Path Traversal in Trace and Download Output Paths

@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai
 - Security/WhatsApp: enforce `0o600` on `creds.json` and `creds.json.bak` on save/backup/restore paths to reduce credential file exposure. (#10529) Thanks @abdelsfane.
 - WhatsApp: preserve outbound document filenames for web-session document sends instead of always sending `"file"`. (#15594) Thanks @TsekaLuk.
 - Security/Gateway + ACP: block high-risk tools (`sessions_spawn`, `sessions_send`, `gateway`, `whatsapp_login`) from HTTP `/tools/invoke` by default with `gateway.tools.{allow,deny}` overrides, and harden ACP permission selection to fail closed when tool identity/options are ambiguous while supporting `allow_always`/`reject_always`. (#15390) Thanks @aether-ai-agent.
+- Security/Browser: constrain `POST /trace/stop`, `POST /wait/download`, and `POST /download` output paths to OpenClaw temp roots and reject traversal/escape paths.
 - Gateway/Tools Invoke: sanitize `/tools/invoke` execution failures while preserving `400` for tool input errors and returning `500` for unexpected runtime failures, with regression coverage and docs updates. (#13185) Thanks @davidrudduck.
 - MS Teams: preserve parsed mention entities/text when appending OneDrive fallback file links, and accept broader real-world Teams mention ID formats (`29:...`, `8:orgid:...`) while still rejecting placeholder patterns. (#15436) Thanks @hyojin.
 - Security/Audit: distinguish external webhooks (`hooks.enabled`) from internal hooks (`hooks.internal.enabled`) in attack-surface summaries to avoid false exposure signals when only internal hooks are enabled. (#13474) Thanks @mcaxtr.

@@ -409,8 +409,8 @@ Actions:
 - `openclaw browser scrollintoview e12`
 - `openclaw browser drag 10 11`
 - `openclaw browser select 9 OptionA OptionB`
-- `openclaw browser download e12 /tmp/report.pdf`
-- `openclaw browser waitfordownload /tmp/report.pdf`
+- `openclaw browser download e12 report.pdf`
+- `openclaw browser waitfordownload report.pdf`
 - `openclaw browser upload /tmp/file.pdf`
 - `openclaw browser fill --fields '[{"ref":"1","type":"text","value":"Ada"}]'`
 - `openclaw browser dialog --accept`
@@ -444,6 +444,9 @@ Notes:
 
 - `upload` and `dialog` are **arming** calls; run them before the click/press
   that triggers the chooser/dialog.
+- Download and trace output paths are constrained to OpenClaw temp roots:
+  - traces: `/tmp/openclaw` (fallback: `${os.tmpdir()}/openclaw`)
+  - downloads: `/tmp/openclaw/downloads` (fallback: `${os.tmpdir()}/openclaw/downloads`)
 - `upload` can also set file inputs directly via `--input-ref` or `--element`.
 - `snapshot`:
   - `--format ai` (default when Playwright is installed): returns an AI snapshot with numeric refs (`aria-ref="<n>"`).

@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@ describe("BlueBubbles webhook monitor", () => {
       expect(res.statusCode).toBe(400);
     });
 
-    it("returns 400 when request body times out (Slow-Loris protection)", async () => {
+    it("returns 408 when request body times out (Slow-Loris protection)", async () => {
       vi.useFakeTimers();
       try {
         const account = createMockAccount();
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ describe("BlueBubbles webhook monitor", () => {
 
         const handled = await handledPromise;
         expect(handled).toBe(true);
-        expect(res.statusCode).toBe(400);
+        expect(res.statusCode).toBe(408);
         expect(req.destroy).toHaveBeenCalled();
       } finally {
         vi.useRealTimers();

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import {
   resolveProfileContext,
   SELECTOR_UNSUPPORTED_MESSAGE,
 } from "./agent.shared.js";
+import { DEFAULT_DOWNLOAD_DIR, resolvePathWithinRoot } from "./path-output.js";
 import { jsonError, toBoolean, toNumber, toStringArray, toStringOrEmpty } from "./utils.js";
 
 export function registerBrowserAgentActRoutes(
@@ -430,18 +431,31 @@ export function registerBrowserAgentActRoutes(
     }
     const body = readBody(req);
     const targetId = toStringOrEmpty(body.targetId) || undefined;
-    const out = toStringOrEmpty(body.path) || undefined;
+    const out = toStringOrEmpty(body.path) || "";
     const timeoutMs = toNumber(body.timeoutMs);
     try {
       const tab = await profileCtx.ensureTabAvailable(targetId);
       const pw = await requirePwAi(res, "wait for download");
       if (!pw) {
         return;
       }
+      let downloadPath: string | undefined;
+      if (out.trim()) {
+        const downloadPathResult = resolvePathWithinRoot({
+          rootDir: DEFAULT_DOWNLOAD_DIR,
+          requestedPath: out,
+          scopeLabel: "downloads directory",
+        });
+        if (!downloadPathResult.ok) {
+          res.status(400).json({ error: downloadPathResult.error });
+          return;
+        }
+        downloadPath = downloadPathResult.path;
+      }
       const result = await pw.waitForDownloadViaPlaywright({
         cdpUrl: profileCtx.profile.cdpUrl,
         targetId: tab.targetId,
-        path: out,
+        path: downloadPath,
         timeoutMs: timeoutMs ?? undefined,
       });
       res.json({ ok: true, targetId: tab.targetId, download: result });
@@ -467,6 +481,15 @@ export function registerBrowserAgentActRoutes(
       return jsonError(res, 400, "path is required");
     }
     try {
+      const downloadPathResult = resolvePathWithinRoot({
+        rootDir: DEFAULT_DOWNLOAD_DIR,
+        requestedPath: out,
+        scopeLabel: "downloads directory",
+      });
+      if (!downloadPathResult.ok) {
+        res.status(400).json({ error: downloadPathResult.error });
+        return;
+      }
       const tab = await profileCtx.ensureTabAvailable(targetId);
       const pw = await requirePwAi(res, "download");
       if (!pw) {
@@ -476,7 +499,7 @@ export function registerBrowserAgentActRoutes(
         cdpUrl: profileCtx.profile.cdpUrl,
         targetId: tab.targetId,
         ref,
-        path: out,
+        path: downloadPathResult.path,
         timeoutMs: timeoutMs ?? undefined,
       });
       res.json({ ok: true, targetId: tab.targetId, download: result });

@@ -3,12 +3,10 @@ import fs from "node:fs/promises";
 import path from "node:path";
 import type { BrowserRouteContext } from "../server-context.js";
 import type { BrowserRouteRegistrar } from "./types.js";
-import { resolvePreferredOpenClawTmpDir } from "../../infra/tmp-openclaw-dir.js";
 import { handleRouteError, readBody, requirePwAi, resolveProfileContext } from "./agent.shared.js";
+import { DEFAULT_TRACE_DIR, resolvePathWithinRoot } from "./path-output.js";
 import { toBoolean, toStringOrEmpty } from "./utils.js";
 
-const DEFAULT_TRACE_DIR = resolvePreferredOpenClawTmpDir();
-
 export function registerBrowserAgentDebugRoutes(
   app: BrowserRouteRegistrar,
   ctx: BrowserRouteContext,
@@ -136,7 +134,17 @@ export function registerBrowserAgentDebugRoutes(
       const id = crypto.randomUUID();
       const dir = DEFAULT_TRACE_DIR;
       await fs.mkdir(dir, { recursive: true });
-      const tracePath = out.trim() || path.join(dir, `browser-trace-${id}.zip`);
+      const tracePathResult = resolvePathWithinRoot({
+        rootDir: dir,
+        requestedPath: out,
+        scopeLabel: "trace directory",
+        defaultFileName: `browser-trace-${id}.zip`,
+      });
+      if (!tracePathResult.ok) {
+        res.status(400).json({ error: tracePathResult.error });
+        return;
+      }
+      const tracePath = tracePathResult.path;
       await pw.traceStopViaPlaywright({
         cdpUrl: profileCtx.profile.cdpUrl,
         targetId: tab.targetId,

@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+import path from "node:path";
+import { resolvePreferredOpenClawTmpDir } from "../../infra/tmp-openclaw-dir.js";
+
+export const DEFAULT_BROWSER_TMP_DIR = resolvePreferredOpenClawTmpDir();
+export const DEFAULT_TRACE_DIR = DEFAULT_BROWSER_TMP_DIR;
+export const DEFAULT_DOWNLOAD_DIR = path.join(DEFAULT_BROWSER_TMP_DIR, "downloads");
+
+export function resolvePathWithinRoot(params: {
+  rootDir: string;
+  requestedPath: string;
+  scopeLabel: string;
+  defaultFileName?: string;
+}): { ok: true; path: string } | { ok: false; error: string } {
+  const root = path.resolve(params.rootDir);
+  const raw = params.requestedPath.trim();
+  if (!raw) {
+    if (!params.defaultFileName) {
+      return { ok: false, error: "path is required" };
+    }
+    return { ok: true, path: path.join(root, params.defaultFileName) };
+  }
+  const resolved = path.resolve(root, raw);
+  const rel = path.relative(root, resolved);
+  if (!rel || rel.startsWith("..") || path.isAbsolute(rel)) {
+    return { ok: false, error: `Invalid path: must stay within ${params.scopeLabel}` };
+  }
+  return { ok: true, path: resolved };
+}

@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ const pwMocks = vi.hoisted(() => ({
   selectOptionViaPlaywright: vi.fn(async () => {}),
   setInputFilesViaPlaywright: vi.fn(async () => {}),
   snapshotAiViaPlaywright: vi.fn(async () => ({ snapshot: "ok" })),
+  traceStopViaPlaywright: vi.fn(async () => {}),
   takeScreenshotViaPlaywright: vi.fn(async () => ({
     buffer: Buffer.from("png"),
   })),
@@ -434,14 +435,14 @@ describe("browser control server", () => {
     expect(dialog).toMatchObject({ ok: true });
 
     const waitDownload = await postJson(`${base}/wait/download`, {
-      path: "/tmp/report.pdf",
+      path: "report.pdf",
       timeoutMs: 1111,
     });
     expect(waitDownload).toMatchObject({ ok: true });
 
     const download = await postJson(`${base}/download`, {
       ref: "e12",
-      path: "/tmp/report.pdf",
+      path: "report.pdf",
     });
     expect(download).toMatchObject({ ok: true });
 
@@ -480,4 +481,83 @@ describe("browser control server", () => {
     expect(stopped.ok).toBe(true);
     expect(stopped.stopped).toBe(true);
   });
+
+  it("trace stop rejects traversal path outside trace dir", async () => {
+    const base = await startServerAndBase();
+    const res = await postJson<{ error?: string }>(`${base}/trace/stop`, {
+      path: "../../pwned.zip",
+    });
+    expect(res.error).toContain("Invalid path");
+    expect(pwMocks.traceStopViaPlaywright).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("trace stop accepts in-root relative output path", async () => {
+    const base = await startServerAndBase();
+    const res = await postJson<{ ok?: boolean; path?: string }>(`${base}/trace/stop`, {
+      path: "safe-trace.zip",
+    });
+    expect(res.ok).toBe(true);
+    expect(res.path).toContain("safe-trace.zip");
+    expect(pwMocks.traceStopViaPlaywright).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        cdpUrl: cdpBaseUrl,
+        targetId: "abcd1234",
+        path: expect.stringContaining("safe-trace.zip"),
+      }),
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("wait/download rejects traversal path outside downloads dir", async () => {
+    const base = await startServerAndBase();
+    const waitRes = await postJson<{ error?: string }>(`${base}/wait/download`, {
+      path: "../../pwned.pdf",
+    });
+    expect(waitRes.error).toContain("Invalid path");
+    expect(pwMocks.waitForDownloadViaPlaywright).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("download rejects traversal path outside downloads dir", async () => {
+    const base = await startServerAndBase();
+    const downloadRes = await postJson<{ error?: string }>(`${base}/download`, {
+      ref: "e12",
+      path: "../../pwned.pdf",
+    });
+    expect(downloadRes.error).toContain("Invalid path");
+    expect(pwMocks.downloadViaPlaywright).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("wait/download accepts in-root relative output path", async () => {
+    const base = await startServerAndBase();
+    const res = await postJson<{ ok?: boolean; download?: { path?: string } }>(
+      `${base}/wait/download`,
+      {
+        path: "safe-wait.pdf",
+      },
+    );
+    expect(res.ok).toBe(true);
+    expect(pwMocks.waitForDownloadViaPlaywright).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        cdpUrl: cdpBaseUrl,
+        targetId: "abcd1234",
+        path: expect.stringContaining("safe-wait.pdf"),
+      }),
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("download accepts in-root relative output path", async () => {
+    const base = await startServerAndBase();
+    const res = await postJson<{ ok?: boolean; download?: { path?: string } }>(`${base}/download`, {
+      ref: "e12",
+      path: "safe-download.pdf",
+    });
+    expect(res.ok).toBe(true);
+    expect(pwMocks.downloadViaPlaywright).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        cdpUrl: cdpBaseUrl,
+        targetId: "abcd1234",
+        ref: "e12",
+        path: expect.stringContaining("safe-download.pdf"),
+      }),
+    );
+  });
 });

@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ export function registerBrowserFilesAndDownloadsCommands(
     .description("Wait for the next download (and save it)")
     .argument(
       "[path]",
-      "Save path (default: /tmp/openclaw/downloads/...; fallback: os.tmpdir()/openclaw/downloads/...)",
+      "Save path within openclaw temp downloads dir (default: /tmp/openclaw/downloads/...; fallback: os.tmpdir()/openclaw/downloads/...)",
     )
     .option("--target-id <id>", "CDP target id (or unique prefix)")
     .option(
@@ -100,7 +100,10 @@ export function registerBrowserFilesAndDownloadsCommands(
     .command("download")
     .description("Click a ref and save the resulting download")
     .argument("<ref>", "Ref id from snapshot to click")
-    .argument("<path>", "Save path")
+    .argument(
+      "<path>",
+      "Save path within openclaw temp downloads dir (e.g. report.pdf or /tmp/openclaw/downloads/report.pdf)",
+    )
     .option("--target-id <id>", "CDP target id (or unique prefix)")
     .option(
       "--timeout-ms <ms>",

@@ -179,7 +179,10 @@ export function registerBrowserDebugCommands(
   trace
     .command("stop")
     .description("Stop trace recording and write a .zip")
-    .option("--out <path>", "Output path for the trace zip")
+    .option(
+      "--out <path>",
+      "Output path within openclaw temp dir (e.g. trace.zip or /tmp/openclaw/trace.zip)",
+    )
     .option("--target-id <id>", "CDP target id (or unique prefix)")
     .action(async (opts, cmd) => {
       const parent = parentOpts(cmd);

@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@ describe("resolveDiscordReplyDeliveryPlan", () => {
 
 describe("maybeCreateDiscordAutoThread", () => {
   it("returns existing thread ID when creation fails due to race condition", async () => {
+    // First call succeeds (simulating another agent creating the thread)
     const client = {
       rest: {
         post: async () => {