🛡️ CVE-2026-42435 — openclaw

🟠 CVSS 8.8 — High ✅ No Known Exploit CWE-78 NVD
8.8
CVSS Score
0 Low4 Medium7 High9 Critical10

Description

OpenClaw: Shell-wrapper detection missed env-argv assignment injection forms

Summary

Shell-wrapper detection missed env-argv assignment injection forms.

Affected Packages / Versions

  • Package: openclaw
  • Ecosystem: npm
  • Affected versions: >= 2026.2.22 < 2026.4.12
  • Patched versions: >= 2026.4.12

Impact

Exec preflight handling missed shell-wrapper and argv-level environment assignment forms that could affect execution semantics, including high-risk shell environment controls.

Technical Details

The fix broadens shell-wrapper detection and blocks environment assignments in argv forms. High-risk shell variables such as SHELLOPTS and PS4 are covered by the host environment security policy.

Fix

The issue was fixed in #65717. The first stable tag containing the fix is v2026.4.12, and [email protected] includes the fix.

Fix Commit(s)

  • 8f8492d172f4c5b4fd7dd9a47855ed620c8770ab
  • PR: #65717

Release Process Note

Users should upgrade to openclaw 2026.4.12 or newer. The latest npm release, 2026.4.14, already includes the fix.

Credits

Thanks to @decsecre583 for reporting this issue.

How this vulnerability can be exploited

This issue can be reached over the network, attack complexity is low, an attacker needs low-level privileges on the target. No user interaction is required. The scope is unchanged, so the impact stays within the vulnerable component. Rated impact: confidentiality high, integrity high, availability high.

Weakness class

CVE-2026-42435 is classified as CWE-78: OS Command Injection. Untrusted input reaches a shell command without neutralisation, so an attacker can run arbitrary operating system commands.

Affected software

CVE-2026-42435 is recorded against 2 packages.

  • openclaw
  • unknown

Timeline and source

Published on 17 April 2026 and last revised on 5 May 2026. No public exploit is currently recorded for this entry. Record sourced from NVD.

References

github.com (Web)
github.com (Web)
github.com (Web)
github.com (Package)

Details

Severity High
CVSS Score 8.8
CVSS Vector CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CWE CWE-78
Public Exploit ✅ No
Source NVD
Published 2026-04-17
Updated 2026-08-12
Modified 2026-05-05
Fix URL N/A

Affected Packages

Software From version Fixed in
openclaw
unknown

Similar Threats

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