Security Digest · Vulnerability record
CVE-2026-41294: OpenClaw has a CWD `.env` environment variable injection which bypasses host-env policy and allows config takeover
OpenClaw before 2026.3.28 loads the current working directory .env file before trusted state-dir configuration, allowing environment variable injection.
CVSS 8.5 High EPSS 0.2% · p8
Should you act?
Normal patch cycle
No exploitation signal; fix it in your next routine update if you are affected. This signal is computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS data; it is not an editorial verdict.
- No confirmed exploitation. It is not in CISA’s KEV catalog and CISA’s SSVC assessment records no known exploitation. That can change quickly after a public write-up; re-check if you are affected.
- EPSS 0.2%, percentile 8: FIRST’s model estimates a 0.2% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 8% of all scored CVEs (low). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Needs local access needed. Lower urgency for most teams unless an attacker could already run code on the machine.
- Only applies if your dependency tree includes
openclaw(npm) <= 2026.3.24, fixed in 2026.3.28. Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.
What it is
OpenClaw before 2026.3.28 loads the current working directory .env file before trusted state-dir configuration, allowing environment variable injection. Attackers can place a malicious .env file in a repository or workspace to override runtime configuration and security-sensitive environment settings during OpenClaw startup.
From the GitHub advisory
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
Weakness type: CWE-15, CWE-426.
Product: openclaw (npm) · Assigned by: VulnCheck · Published: 2026-04-20
Affected and fixed versions
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable | First fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm | openclaw | <= 2026.3.24 | 2026.3.28 |
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions (per CVE record) |
|---|---|---|
| OpenClaw | OpenClaw | < 2026.3.28 |
Severity scores
| Scored by | CVSS | Score | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| VulnCheck | 4.0 | 8.5 High | 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 |
| VulnCheck | 3.1 | 8.6 High | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| GitHub | 3.1 | 9.6 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H |
- Attack vector: local access needed
- Attack complexity: low
- Attack requirements: none
- Privileges required: none (no login)
- User interaction: passive
CVSS measures how bad a flaw is if exploited, not how likely exploitation is. Read it next to the exploitation data below.
Exploitation and urgency
- CISA KEV: not listed (no confirmed in-the-wild exploitation known to CISA).
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation none, automatable no, technical impact total.
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 0.19% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 8.
Timeline
- — GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-8rh7-6779-cjqq published (critical)
- — CVE record published by VulnCheck
- — CVE record last updated
Sources and references
Original sources first. Version and fix details should always be confirmed against the vendor or project advisory.
Vendor and project advisories, patches
Vulnerability records
- GitHub Advisory GHSA-8rh7-6779-cjqq github.com
- CVE.org record CVE-2026-41294 cve.org
- NVD entry CVE-2026-41294 nvd.nist.gov
Other references from the CVE record and advisory
- VulnCheck Advisory: OpenClaw < 2026.3.28 - Environment Variable Injection via CWD .env File vulncheck.com
- github.com github.com
- github.com github.com