Vulnerability Database

328,409

Total vulnerabilities in the database

OpenClaw affected by BASH_ENV / ENV startup-file injection into spawned shell commands

Summary

BASH_ENV / ENV startup-file injection could lead to unintended pre-command shell execution when attacker-controlled environment values were admitted and then inherited by host command execution paths.

Affected Packages / Versions

  • Package: openclaw (npm)
  • Affected: <= 2026.2.19-2
  • Fixed on main: 2cdbadee1f8fcaa93302d7debbfc529e19868ea4
  • Planned patched release version: 2026.2.21

Details

The fix hardens environment handling across all relevant execution paths:

  • Blocks dangerous startup/runtime env keys and prefixes in shared host env sanitization.
  • Sanitizes inherited ambient environment even when no per-request overrides are provided.
  • Blocks dangerous config-driven env injection before values enter process environment.
  • Uses the same sanitizer in macOS host execution paths.
  • Aligns skill env override sanitization with the shared dangerous-env policy.

Impact

Medium. Exploitation requires local/privileged influence over configuration or environment inputs; there is no standalone remote unauthenticated trigger from this issue alone.

Fix Commit(s)

  • 2cdbadee1f8fcaa93302d7debbfc529e19868ea4

Release Process Note

patched_versions is pre-set to the planned next release (2026.2.21). Once npm openclaw@2026.2.21 is published, the advisory can be published without further field edits.

OpenClaw thanks @tdjackey for reporting.

No technical information available.

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CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) estimates technical severity, but it doesn't automatically equal business risk. Prioritize using context like internet exposure, affected asset criticality, known exploitation (proof-of-concept or in-the-wild), and whether compensating controls exist. A "Medium" CVSS on an exposed, production system can be more urgent than a "Critical" on an isolated, non-production host.

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