CVE-2026-4039

Local code execution via unsafe environment overrides

Published Mar 12, 2026 · Updated Mar 12, 2026

Code injection in OpenClaw 2026.2.19-2 allows local users to execute code through malicious skill environment configuration. applySkillConfigEnvOverrides copied skills.entries.*.env values into the host process.env without applying the host environment safety policy, allowing NODE_OPTIONS to load attacker-selected code. Exploitation requires write access to OpenClaw local state or configuration, and execution occurs in the OpenClaw process or its child processes.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.32%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Code injection in OpenClaw 2026.2.19-2 allows local users to execute code through malicious skill environment configuration. applySkillConfigEnvOverrides copied skills.entries.*.env values into the host process.env without applying the host environment safety policy, allowing NODE_OPTIONS to load attacker-selected code. Exploitation requires write access to OpenClaw local state or configuration, and execution occurs in the OpenClaw process or its child processes.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-4039
Published
Mar 12, 2026
Updated
Mar 12, 2026
Vendor
OpenClaw Foundation
Product
OpenClaw
Classifications
CWE-94, CWE-74, T1059.007
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 12, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 12, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=2026.2.19-2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

OpenClaw Foundation · OpenClawversion=2026.2.19-2

Published CVSS scores

5.3VulDBCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
6.5VulDBAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P
6.3VulDBCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-94Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
CWE-74Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')
T1059.007JavaScript/JScript

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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