CVE-2026-44114 — OpenClaw < 2026.4.20 - Environment Variable Namespace Collision via Workspace dotenv

Affected: OpenClaw

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.

GHSA-hxvm-xjvf-93f3 — OpenClaw: Workspace dotenv could override runtime-control environment variables

Affected: npm: openclaw

## Affected Packages / Versions

- Package: `openclaw` (npm) - Affected versions: `< 2026.4.20` - Patched version: `2026.4.20`

## Impact

Workspace `.env` loading did not reserve the `OPENCLAW_` runtime-control namespace broadly enough. A malicious workspace could set variables such as `OPENCLAW_GIT_DIR` before source-update or installer flows, potentially steering trusted OpenClaw runtime behavior.

This requires running OpenClaw from an attacker-controlled workspace. Severity is medium.

## Fix

OpenClaw now reserves the workspace `OPENCLAW_` environment namespace and rejects workspace dotenv entries for OpenClaw runtime-control variables.

Fix commit:

- `018494fa3ebb9145112e68b56fe1cb2e9f9a9ed6`

## Release

Fixed in OpenClaw `2026.4.20`.

Most recent entries from all

CVE-2026-44114 — OpenClaw < 2026.4.20 - Environment Variable Namespace Collision via Workspace dotenv

GHSA-hxvm-xjvf-93f3 — OpenClaw: Workspace dotenv could override runtime-control environment variables