Local code execution via build environment injection
Published Apr 28, 2026 · Updated Apr 28, 2026
Environment variable injection in OpenClaw before 2026.4.8 allows local users to execute arbitrary code through host exec commands. The host exec environment filter omits HGRCPATH, CARGO_BUILD_RUSTC_WRAPPER, RUSTC_WRAPPER, and MAKEFLAGS from its denylist, so attacker-controlled values reach invoked build tools. Exploitation requires low-privilege local access and a high-complexity path to influence an exec environment; successful use runs code with the OpenClaw process's host permissions.
Summary
What happened
Environment variable injection in OpenClaw before 2026.4.8 allows local users to execute arbitrary code through host exec commands. The host exec environment filter omits HGRCPATH, CARGO_BUILD_RUSTC_WRAPPER, RUSTC_WRAPPER, and MAKEFLAGS from its denylist, so attacker-controlled values reach invoked build tools. Exploitation requires low-privilege local access and a high-complexity path to influence an exec environment; successful use runs code with the OpenClaw process's host permissions.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-42427
- Published
- Apr 28, 2026
- Updated
- Apr 28, 2026
- Vendor
- OpenClaw Foundation
- Product
- OpenClaw
- Classifications
- CWE-184, CWE-78, T1059
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Apr 28, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 28, 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.
- Affected versionversion=0 <2026.4.8
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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