CVE-2026-44114

Runtime behavior manipulation via workspace dotenv override

Published May 6, 2026 · Updated May 6, 2026

Environment variable injection in OpenClaw before 2026.4.20 allows attackers to alter runtime behavior via a malicious workspace. The workspace dotenv loader's blocklist omitted the broad OPENCLAW_ prefix, so it accepted runtime-control keys such as OPENCLAW_GIT_DIR from untrusted .env files. Exploitation requires running OpenClaw from an attacker-controlled workspace and can steer trusted source-update or installer flows.

CVSS severity8.5
High
EPSS probability0.13%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Environment variable injection in OpenClaw before 2026.4.20 allows attackers to alter runtime behavior via a malicious workspace. The workspace dotenv loader's blocklist omitted the broad OPENCLAW_ prefix, so it accepted runtime-control keys such as OPENCLAW_GIT_DIR from untrusted .env files. Exploitation requires running OpenClaw from an attacker-controlled workspace and can steer trusted source-update or installer flows.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-44114
Published
May 6, 2026
Updated
May 6, 2026
Vendor
OpenClaw Foundation
Product
OpenClaw
Classifications
CWE-184
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 6, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 6, 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=0 <2026.4.20

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

OpenClaw Foundation · OpenClawversion=0 <2026.4.20

Published CVSS scores

8.5VulnCheckCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
7.8VulnCheckCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/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.

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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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-184Incomplete List of Disallowed Inputs

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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