CVE-2026-53858
OpenClaw < 2026.5.2 - Arbitrary Runtime Dependency Loading via STATE_DIRECTORY Environment Variable
OpenClaw before 2026.5.2 contains an environment variable injection vulnerability where workspace .env STATE_DIRECTORY could influence bundled runtime dependency roots. Attackers can manipulate the STATE_DIRECTORY variable to load runtime dependencies from unintended local paths, potentially executing malicious code during dependency resolution.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- Active
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
OpenClaw < 2026.5.2 - Arbitrary Runtime Dependency Loading via STATE_DIRECTORY Environment Variable
OpenClaw before 2026.5.2 contains an environment variable injection vulnerability where workspace .env STATE_DIRECTORY could influence bundled runtime dependency roots. Attackers can manipulate the STATE_DIRECTORY variable to load runtime dependencies from unintended local paths, potentially executing malicious code during dependency resolution.
- Record
CVE-2026-53858- CVSS 4.0
- 7.0 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - CVSS 3.1
- 7.1 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-426
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2026-37160
OpenClaw before 2026.5.2 contains an environment variable injection vulnerability where workspace .env STATE_DIRECTORY could influence bundled runtime dependency roots. Attackers can manipulate the STATE_DIRECTORY variable to load runtime dependencies from unintended local paths, potentially executing malicious code during dependency resolution.
- Record
EUVD-2026-37160- CVSS 4.0
- 7.0 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-4qgr-57jq-93vh
Duplicate Advisory: Workspace .env STATE_DIRECTORY could influence bundled runtime dependency roots
Duplicate Advisory
This advisory has been withdrawn because it is a duplicate of GHSA-wc84-j36w-pw4x. This link is maintained to preserve external references.
Original Description
OpenClaw before 2026.5.2 contains an environment variable injection vulnerability where workspace .env STATE_DIRECTORY could influence bundled runtime dependency roots. Attackers can manipulate the STATE_DIRECTORY variable to load runtime dependencies from unintended local paths, potentially executing malicious code during dependency resolution.
- Record
GHSA-4qgr-57jq-93vh- CVSS 4.0
- 7.0 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - CVSS 3.1
- 7.1 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-426
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-wc84-j36w-pw4x
OpenClaw: Workspace .env STATE_DIRECTORY could influence bundled runtime dependency roots
Summary
Workspace .env STATE_DIRECTORY could influence bundled runtime dependency roots. In affected versions, a workspace .env in a repository opened by a trusted operator could set STATE_DIRECTORY before runtime dependency root resolution.
This advisory is scoped to the named feature and configuration. It does not change OpenClaw's trusted-operator model: authenticated Gateway operators, installed plugins, and intentional local execution surfaces remain trusted unless a separate policy, approval, allowlist, sandbox, or auth boundary is crossed.
Impact
When the affected feature is enabled and reachable, this could load bundled runtime dependencies from an unintended local state path. Practical impact depends on the operator's configuration and whether lower-trust input can reach that path.
Patched Versions
The first stable patched version is 2026.5.2.
Mitigations
avoid opening untrusted workspace env files before runtime dependency installation until patched. As general hardening, keep channel and tool allowlists narrow, avoid sharing one Gateway between mutually untrusted users, and disable the affected feature when it is not needed.
- Record
GHSA-wc84-j36w-pw4x- CVSS 4.0
- 7.0 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - CVSS 3.1
- 7.1 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-426
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
OpenClaw before 2026.5.2 contains an environment variable injection vulnerability where workspace .env STATE_DIRECTORY could influence bundled runtime dependency roots. Attackers can manipulate the STATE_DIRECTORY variable to load runtime dependencies from unintended local paths, potentially executing malicious code during dependency resolution.
- Record
CVE-2026-53858- CVSS 4.0
- 7.0 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/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
- 7.1 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-426
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
OpenClaw < 2026.5.2 - Arbitrary Runtime Dependency Loading via STATE_DIRECTORY Environment Variable
OpenClaw before 2026.5.2 contains an environment variable injection vulnerability where workspace .env STATE_DIRECTORY could influence bundled runtime dependency roots. Attackers can manipulate the STATE_DIRECTORY variable to load runtime dependencies from unintended local paths, potentially executing malicious code during dependency resolution.
- Record
CVE-2026-53858- CVSS 4.0
- 7.0 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-426
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-4qgr-57jq-93vh
Duplicate Advisory: Workspace .env STATE_DIRECTORY could influence bundled runtime dependency roots
Duplicate Advisory
This advisory has been withdrawn because it is a duplicate of GHSA-wc84-j36w-pw4x. This link is maintained to preserve external references.
Original Description
OpenClaw before 2026.5.2 contains an environment variable injection vulnerability where workspace .env STATE_DIRECTORY could influence bundled runtime dependency roots. Attackers can manipulate the STATE_DIRECTORY variable to load runtime dependencies from unintended local paths, potentially executing malicious code during dependency resolution.
- Record
GHSA-4qgr-57jq-93vh- CVSS 4.0
- 7.0 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - CVSS 3.1
- 7.1 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-426
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-wc84-j36w-pw4x
OpenClaw: Workspace .env STATE_DIRECTORY could influence bundled runtime dependency roots
Summary
Workspace .env STATE_DIRECTORY could influence bundled runtime dependency roots. In affected versions, a workspace .env in a repository opened by a trusted operator could set STATE_DIRECTORY before runtime dependency root resolution.
This advisory is scoped to the named feature and configuration. It does not change OpenClaw's trusted-operator model: authenticated Gateway operators, installed plugins, and intentional local execution surfaces remain trusted unless a separate policy, approval, allowlist, sandbox, or auth boundary is crossed.
Impact
When the affected feature is enabled and reachable, this could load bundled runtime dependencies from an unintended local state path. Practical impact depends on the operator's configuration and whether lower-trust input can reach that path.
Patched Versions
The first stable patched version is 2026.5.2.
Mitigations
avoid opening untrusted workspace env files before runtime dependency installation until patched. As general hardening, keep channel and tool allowlists narrow, avoid sharing one Gateway between mutually untrusted users, and disable the affected feature when it is not needed.
- Record
GHSA-wc84-j36w-pw4x- CVSS 4.0
- 7.0 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - CVSS 3.1
- 7.1 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-426
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
openclawnpm |
before 2026.5.2 | 2026.5.2 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| affected | ||
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2026-53858 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.0) in Openclaw, published June 16, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.12%, the 2nd percentile. Fixed in openclaw 2026.5.2.
References
github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-wc84-j36w-pw4x
vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-arbitrary-runtime-dependency-loading-via-state-directory-environment-variable
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-53858