CVE-2026-42435Network attack vector

Authenticated command injection via env argv assignments

Published May 5, 2026 · Updated May 5, 2026

Command injection in OpenClaw Foundation OpenClaw 2026.2.22 through 2026.4.11 allows remote authenticated users to run commands via system.run. Exec preflight failed to collect environment assignments nested in dispatch-wrapper argv, allowing SHELLOPTS or PS4 to reach a shell before policy rejection. Low-privileged network access to system.run is required, and injected commands run with the node host process permissions.

CVSS severity8.7
High
EPSS probability0.41%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in OpenClaw Foundation OpenClaw 2026.2.22 through 2026.4.11 allows remote authenticated users to run commands via system.run. Exec preflight failed to collect environment assignments nested in dispatch-wrapper argv, allowing SHELLOPTS or PS4 to reach a shell before policy rejection. Low-privileged network access to system.run is required, and injected commands run with the node host process permissions.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-42435
Published
May 5, 2026
Updated
May 5, 2026
Vendor
OpenClaw Foundation
Product
OpenClaw
Classifications
CWE-78, CWE-184, T1059
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 5, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 5, 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=2026.2.22 <2026.4.12

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

OpenClaw Foundation · OpenClawversion=2026.2.22 <2026.4.12

Published CVSS scores

8.7VulnCheckCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
8.8VulnCheckCVSS: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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
CWE-184Incomplete List of Disallowed Inputs
T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter

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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