---
id: CVE-2026-44114
title: >-
  OpenClaw < 2026.4.20 - Environment Variable Namespace Collision via Workspace
  dotenv
summary: >-
  OpenClaw before 2026.4.20 fails to properly reserve the OPENCLAW_
  runtime-control environment namespace in workspace dotenv files, allowing
  attackers to override critical runtime variables. Malicious workspaces can set
  variables like OPE…
severity: high
cvss: 7.8
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'
cvssSource: cna
cwe:
  - CWE-184
vendor: OpenClaw
product: OpenClaw
affected:
  - OpenClaw < 2026.4.20
ssvc:
  exploitation: none
  automatable: 'no'
  technicalImpact: total
  timestamp: '2026-05-07T13:52:56.744116Z'
published: '2026-05-06'
updated: '2026-09-24'
sourceUpdated: '2026-09-24T14:17:41.189Z'
source: CVEORG
sourceUrl: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-44114'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-hxvm-xjvf-93f3
    label: GitHub Security Advisory (GHSA-hxvm-xjvf-93f3)
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/018494fa3ebb9145112e68b56fe1cb2e9f9a9ed6
    label: Patch Commit
  - url: >-
      https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-environment-variable-namespace-collision-via-workspace-dotenv
    label: >-
      VulnCheck Advisory: OpenClaw < 2026.4.20 - Environment Variable Namespace
      Collision via Workspace dotenv
tags:
  - cve.org
epss: 0.00186
epssPercentile: 0.07344
ingestedAt: '2026-09-24T15:45:56.730Z'
---

## Overview

OpenClaw before 2026.4.20 fails to properly reserve the OPENCLAW_ runtime-control environment namespace in workspace dotenv files, allowing attackers to override critical runtime variables. Malicious workspaces can set variables like OPENCLAW_GIT_DIR to manipulate trusted OpenClaw runtime behavior during source-update or installer flows.

## Affected

- `OpenClaw < 2026.4.20`

## Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.