OpenClaw < 2026.4.20 - Environment Variable Namespace Collision via Workspace dotenv | Advisories

Advisories

OpenClaw < 2026.4.20 - Environment Variable Namespace Collision via Workspace dotenv

severity: high
date: 5/6/2026
Affecting: OpenClaw < 2026.4.20
CVE: CVE-2026-44114
CWE: CWE-184: Incomplete List of Disallowed Inputs
CVSS: 8.5
CVSS V4 Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
References: GitHub Security Advisory (GHSA-hxvm-xjvf-93f3)
Patch Commit
Credit: foodlook
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.

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