CVE-2026-44995

Code execution via unfiltered MCP stdio environment

Published May 11, 2026 · Updated May 11, 2026

Code injection in OpenClaw before 2026.4.20 allows local users to execute arbitrary code through malicious MCP stdio configuration. resolveStdioMcpServerLaunchConfig passed the workspace-supplied env object to child processes without filtering startup variables such as NODE_OPTIONS, LD_PRELOAD, or BASH_ENV. Execution requires an operator to open the malicious workspace and start a session that uses the configured MCP server.

CVSS severity5.4
Medium
EPSS probability0.14%
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 before 2026.4.20 allows local users to execute arbitrary code through malicious MCP stdio configuration. resolveStdioMcpServerLaunchConfig passed the workspace-supplied env object to child processes without filtering startup variables such as NODE_OPTIONS, LD_PRELOAD, or BASH_ENV. Execution requires an operator to open the malicious workspace and start a session that uses the configured MCP server.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-44995
Published
May 11, 2026
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
OpenClaw Foundation
Product
OpenClaw
Classifications
CWE-829, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 11, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 11, 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 privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

OpenClaw Foundation · OpenClawversion=0 <2026.4.20

Published CVSS scores

5.4VulnCheckCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
5.4GitHubCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
7.3VulnCheckCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/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.

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)
Vectorlocal
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-829Inclusion of Functionality from Untrusted Control Sphere
T1204.002Malicious File

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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