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CVE-2026-41294 — Vulnerability in openclaw — CVE Details

CRITICAL

OpenClaw has a CWD `.env` environment variable injection which bypasses host-env policy and allows config takeover

Published April 1, 2026Updated April 20, 2026Source: osv

Summary

## Summary OpenClaw loaded the current working directory `.env` before trusted state-dir configuration, allowing untrusted workspace state to inject host environment values. ## Impact A repository or workspace containing a malicious `.env` file could override runtime configuration and security-sensitive environment settings when OpenClaw started there. ## Affected Component `src/infra/dotenv.ts, src/cli/dotenv.ts` ## Fixed Versions - Affected: `<= 2026.3.24` - Patched: `>= 2026.3.28` - Latest stable `2026.3.28` contains the fix. ## Fix Fixed by commit `6a79324802` (`Filter untrusted CWD .env entries before OpenClaw startup`).

Advisory Timeline

  • First published April 1, 2026 (194 days ago).
  • Last revised April 20, 2026 — 20 days after initial publication.

Remediation

Upgrade to the fixed version using your package manager.

npm
Update openclaw to 2026.3.28 or later
npm install openclaw@2026.3.28

After upgrading, run your dependency scanner again to confirm the vulnerability is resolved.

Affected Packages (1)

Affects 1 ecosystem: npm (1).

PackageEcosystemAffectedFixed In
openclaw
npm
All versions2026.3.28

Vulnerability Classification

Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) identifiers for this vulnerability type.

CVSS Score Breakdown

What the CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) 9.6 score means for each attack dimension.

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Changed
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-41294?
OpenClaw has a CWD `.env` environment variable injection which bypasses host-env policy and allows config takeover This vulnerability has been assigned a severity rating of CRITICAL (CVSS score: 9.6/10).
How do I check if my project is affected by CVE-2026-41294?
CVE-2026-41294 affects openclaw. Use GeekWala's free vulnerability scanner to check your dependencies against CVE-2026-41294 and 200,000+ other known vulnerabilities.

Severity & Exploitability

CVSS Score
9.6

Exploitation is straightforward and causes maximum impact. Patch immediately.

Also Known As

GHSA-8rh7-6779-cjqq

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