OpenClaw < 2026.4.20 - Environment Variable Namespace Collision via Workspace dotenv (CVE-2026-44114) | HOL Guard CVE

High · CVSS 8.5CVE-2026-44114

OpenClaw < 2026.4.20 - Environment Variable Namespace Collision via Workspace dotenv

Answer in brief

CVE-2026-44114 records a High severity (CVSS 8.5) vulnerability in OpenClaw < 2026.4.20 - Environment Variable Namespace Collision via Workspace dotenv. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. The current feed maps OpenClaw/OpenClaw (generic). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Analysis pending evidence review

HOL Guard separates source facts from reviewed analysis. See the methodology.

Published May 6, 2026Updated Sep 24, 2026Source checked Sep 24, 2026First seen by HOL Sep 24, 2026Material review Sep 24, 2026

Upstream Advisory

Key facts

Risk: High · CVSS 8.5
Exploitation: Not marked as known exploited
Affected software: 1 mapped package or product
Fix availability: Available

Why this deserves its current priority

CVSS is 8.5. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. Treat this as a source-backed prioritization signal, not a statement about your environment.

Analysis status

Analysis pending evidence review

Factual feed record only; HOL analysis is not approved for indexing. Read the methodology.

Affected scope and exposure questions

The current feed maps OpenClaw/OpenClaw (generic). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Mapped affected packages and fixed versions
Package	Affected range	Fixed version
OpenClaw/OpenClawgeneric	>=0 <2026.4.20	2026.4.20

Recommended response

Check inventory. Check lockfiles and deployed manifests for OpenClaw/OpenClaw.
Review the reported fix. Update OpenClaw/OpenClaw to 2026.4.20 if you use the affected versions. Test the change in a non-production environment first.

Evidence timeline and material changes

Published upstream
May 6, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
Source modified
Sep 24, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
First seen by HOL
Sep 24, 2026

Sources and claim methodology

Upstream source description

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.

Quoted source text, attributed separately from HOL analysis.