High severity · published May 11, 2026
CVE-2026-44995
OpenClaw < 2026.4.20 - Arbitrary Code Execution via MCP stdio Environment Variables
7.3
CVSS
0.1%
EPSS
No
On KEV
Description
OpenClaw before 2026.4.20 contains an improper environment variable validation vulnerability in MCP stdio server configuration that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code. Malicious workspace configurations can pass dangerous startup variables like NODE_OPTIONS, LD_PRELOAD, or BASH_ENV to spawned MCP server processes, enabling code injection when operators start sessions using those servers.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector
Local
Complexity
Low
Privileges
Low
User interaction
Required
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Scope
Unchanged
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)0.1% · higher than 3% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
OP
OpenClaw · OpenClaw
before 2026.4.20 · source: vendor, NVD
References
NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-44995
CVE.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-44995
Patch
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/62fa5071896e95edc7f67d1cebc70a2859e283af
Broken Link
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/85d86ebc4bf3d2226d39d132a484f4f7a299fa1b
Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-mj59-h3q9-ghfh
Patch
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-arbitrary-code-execution-via-mcp-stdio-environment-variables
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