OpenClaw < 2026.5.2 - Arbitrary Python Runtime Execution via CLOUDSDK_PYTHON Environment Variable
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Active
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- Present
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-426.
Summary
OpenClaw before 2026.5.2 contains an environment variable injection vulnerability allowing workspace .env files to influence Python runtime selection through CLOUDSDK_PYTHON during Gmail setup gcloud execution. Attackers with repository access can manipulate the CLOUDSDK_PYTHON variable to execute setup through unintended local Python paths, potentially enabling arbitrary code execution.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenClaw | OpenClaw | before 2026.5.2 | 2026.5.2 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | openclaw (npm) | before 2026.5.2 | 2026.5.2 | Patch available | GHSA-fq9j-vw4w-fr6v |
- OpenClaw VendorOpenClaw Affected before 2026.5.2 Fixed in 2026.5.2 Patch available CNA
- openclaw (npm) Vendor— Affected before 2026.5.2 Fixed in 2026.5.2 Patch available GHSA-fq9j-vw4w-fr6v
CPE configurations NVD · 4
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:openclaw:openclaw:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:* | before 2026.5.2 | Vulnerable | OpenClaw |
| cpe:2.3:a:openclaw:openclaw:2026.5.2:beta1:*:*:*:node.js:*:* | 2026.5.2 beta1 | Vulnerable | OpenClaw |
| cpe:2.3:a:openclaw:openclaw:2026.5.2:beta2:*:*:*:node.js:*:* | 2026.5.2 beta2 | Vulnerable | OpenClaw |
| cpe:2.3:a:openclaw:openclaw:2026.5.2:beta3:*:*:*:node.js:*:* | 2026.5.2 beta3 | Vulnerable | OpenClaw |
- cpe:2.3:a:openclaw:openclaw:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:* Versions before 2026.5.2 Vulnerable ·OpenClaw
- cpe:2.3:a:openclaw:openclaw:2026.5.2:beta1:*:*:*:node.js:*:* Versions 2026.5.2 beta1 Vulnerable ·OpenClaw
- cpe:2.3:a:openclaw:openclaw:2026.5.2:beta2:*:*:*:node.js:*:* Versions 2026.5.2 beta2 Vulnerable ·OpenClaw
- cpe:2.3:a:openclaw:openclaw:2026.5.2:beta3:*:*:*:node.js:*:* Versions 2026.5.2 beta3 Vulnerable ·OpenClaw
Remediation
- Fix · CNA OpenClaw (OpenClaw) Fixed in 2026.5.2
- Fix · GHSA-fq9j-vw4w-fr6v openclaw (npm) Fixed in 2026.5.2 Advisory →
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Release ·
OpenClaw 2026.5.2
3 records Highest priority Priority LOW 3 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2026-38861 OpenClaw < 2026.5.2 - Arbitrary Command Execution via Workspace-Derived Service PATHPriority LOW 32
- TI-2026-38854 OpenClaw < 2026.5.2 - Arbitrary Runtime Dependency Loading via STATE_DIRECTORY Environment VariablePriority LOW 32
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-53842
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-fq9j-vw4w-fr6v
References
More Openclaw vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-25309 OpenClaw < 2026.3.28 Media Parsing Path Traversal to Arbitrary File Read CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.7
- TI-2026-20394 Exposure of resource to wrong sphere in OpenClaw CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2026-27742 OpenClaw < 2026.3.24 - Arbitrary Code Execution via .npmrc in Local Plugin/Hook Installation CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.4
- TI-2026-27766 OpenClaw < 2026.3.24 - Denial of Service via Feishu Webhook Pre-Auth Body Parsing CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.9
- TI-2026-07315 OpenClaw bluebubbles Webhook monitor.ts handleBlueBubblesWebhookRequest improper authentication CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.9
- TI-2026-17789 OpenClaw < 2026.2.22 - Allowlist Bypass via Command Substitution in system.run CVSS 4.0HIGH 7.5
Sources
- CVE-2026-53842 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-53842 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-fq9j-vw4w-fr6v · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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