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CVE-2026-44114

OpenClaw < 2026.4.20 - Environment Variable Namespace Collision via Workspace dotenv

8.5 HighFix available

OpenClaw before 2026.4.20 fails to properly reserve the OPENCLAW_ runtime-control environment namespace in workspace dotenv files, allowing attackers to override critical runtime variables. Malicious workspaces can set variables like OPENCLAW_GIT_DIR to manipulate trusted OpenClaw runtime behavior during source-update or installer flows.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Local
Complexity
Low
Privileges needed
None
User interaction
Passive

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Exploit likelihood

0.13%Up 0.1 points since May 7, 2026
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 8.5

OpenClaw < 2026.4.20 - Environment Variable Namespace Collision via Workspace dotenv

OpenClaw before 2026.4.20 fails to properly reserve the OPENCLAW_ runtime-control environment namespace in workspace dotenv files, allowing attackers to override critical runtime variables. Malicious workspaces can set variables like OPENCLAW_GIT_DIR to manipulate trusted OpenClaw runtime behavior during source-update or installer flows.

Record
CVE-2026-44114
CVSS 4.0
8.5 HighCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
CVSS 3.1
7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness
CWE-184
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2026-28194 8.5

OpenClaw before 2026.4.20 fails to properly reserve the OPENCLAW_ runtime-control environment namespace in workspace dotenv files, allowing attackers to override critical runtime variables. Malicious workspaces can set variables like OPENCLAW_GIT_DIR to manipulate trusted OpenClaw runtime behavior during source-update or installer flows.

Record
EUVD-2026-28194
CVSS 4.0
8.5 HighCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
Updated
2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-9r9j-3r2w-fg3v 8.5

Duplicate Advisory: OpenClaw: Workspace dotenv could override runtime-control environment variables

Duplicate Advisory

This advisory has been withdrawn because it is a duplicate of GHSA-hxvm-xjvf-93f3. This link is maintained to preserve external references.

Original Description

OpenClaw before 2026.4.20 fails to properly reserve the OPENCLAW_ runtime-control environment namespace in workspace dotenv files, allowing attackers to override critical runtime variables. Malicious workspaces can set variables like OPENCLAW_GIT_DIR to manipulate trusted OpenClaw runtime behavior during source-update or installer flows.

Record
GHSA-9r9j-3r2w-fg3v
CVSS 4.0
8.5 HighCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
CVSS 3.1
7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness
CWE-184
Updated
2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-hxvm-xjvf-93f3 8.5

OpenClaw: Workspace dotenv could override runtime-control environment variables

Affected Packages / Versions

  • Package: openclaw (npm)
  • Affected versions: < 2026.4.20
  • Patched version: 2026.4.20

Impact

Workspace .env loading did not reserve the OPENCLAW_ runtime-control namespace broadly enough. A malicious workspace could set variables such as OPENCLAW_GIT_DIR before source-update or installer flows, potentially steering trusted OpenClaw runtime behavior.

This requires running OpenClaw from an attacker-controlled workspace. Severity is medium.

Fix

OpenClaw now reserves the workspace OPENCLAW_ environment namespace and rejects workspace dotenv entries for OpenClaw runtime-control variables.

Fix commit:

  • 018494fa3ebb9145112e68b56fe1cb2e9f9a9ed6

Release

Fixed in OpenClaw 2026.4.20.

Record
GHSA-hxvm-xjvf-93f3
CVSS 4.0
8.5 HighCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
CVSS 3.1
7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness
CWE-184
Updated
2026-11-02
NVD 8.5

OpenClaw before 2026.4.20 fails to properly reserve the OPENCLAW_ runtime-control environment namespace in workspace dotenv files, allowing attackers to override critical runtime variables. Malicious workspaces can set variables like OPENCLAW_GIT_DIR to manipulate trusted OpenClaw runtime behavior during source-update or installer flows.

Record
CVE-2026-44114
CVSS 4.0
8.5 HighCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
CVSS 3.1
7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness
CWE-184
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV 8.5

OpenClaw < 2026.4.20 - Environment Variable Namespace Collision via Workspace dotenv

OpenClaw before 2026.4.20 fails to properly reserve the OPENCLAW_ runtime-control environment namespace in workspace dotenv files, allowing attackers to override critical runtime variables. Malicious workspaces can set variables like OPENCLAW_GIT_DIR to manipulate trusted OpenClaw runtime behavior during source-update or installer flows.

Record
CVE-2026-44114
CVSS 4.0
8.5 HighCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
Weakness
CWE-184
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-9r9j-3r2w-fg3v 8.5

Duplicate Advisory: OpenClaw: Workspace dotenv could override runtime-control environment variables

Duplicate Advisory

This advisory has been withdrawn because it is a duplicate of GHSA-hxvm-xjvf-93f3. This link is maintained to preserve external references.

Original Description

OpenClaw before 2026.4.20 fails to properly reserve the OPENCLAW_ runtime-control environment namespace in workspace dotenv files, allowing attackers to override critical runtime variables. Malicious workspaces can set variables like OPENCLAW_GIT_DIR to manipulate trusted OpenClaw runtime behavior during source-update or installer flows.

Record
GHSA-9r9j-3r2w-fg3v
CVSS 4.0
8.5 HighCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
CVSS 3.1
7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness
CWE-184
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-hxvm-xjvf-93f3 8.5

OpenClaw: Workspace dotenv could override runtime-control environment variables

Affected Packages / Versions

  • Package: openclaw (npm)
  • Affected versions: < 2026.4.20
  • Patched version: 2026.4.20

Impact

Workspace .env loading did not reserve the OPENCLAW_ runtime-control namespace broadly enough. A malicious workspace could set variables such as OPENCLAW_GIT_DIR before source-update or installer flows, potentially steering trusted OpenClaw runtime behavior.

This requires running OpenClaw from an attacker-controlled workspace. Severity is medium.

Fix

OpenClaw now reserves the workspace OPENCLAW_ environment namespace and rejects workspace dotenv entries for OpenClaw runtime-control variables.

Fix commit:

  • 018494fa3ebb9145112e68b56fe1cb2e9f9a9ed6

Release

Fixed in OpenClaw 2026.4.20.

Record
GHSA-hxvm-xjvf-93f3
CVSS 4.0
8.5 HighCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
CVSS 3.1
7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness
CWE-184
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
openclaw
npm
 before 2026.4.20
2026.4.20

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
affected
first indexedCVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2026-44114 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.5) in Openclaw, published April 25, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.13%, the 2nd percentile. Fixed in openclaw 2026.4.20.

References

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