📄 Description (English)
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.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
OpenClaw before version 2026.4.20 contains an environment variable namespace collision vulnerability (CWE-184) that allows attackers to override critical runtime variables through malicious workspace dotenv files. This enables manipulation of trusted OpenClaw runtime behavior during source-update and installer flows, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or supply chain compromise. The vulnerability affects Node.js-based OpenClaw deployments with a CVSS score of 7.8 (high severity) and requires immediate patching.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: May 11, 2026 19:00
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
This vulnerability poses significant risk to Saudi organizations using OpenClaw for DevOps and CI/CD pipelines, particularly in: (1) Banking and Financial Services (SAMA-regulated entities) — supply chain compromise could affect payment processing systems and financial applications; (2) Government and Critical Infrastructure (NCA oversight) — manipulation of deployment processes could compromise sensitive government systems; (3) Telecommunications (STC, Mobily) — affects infrastructure automation and deployment pipelines; (4) Energy Sector (ARAMCO, Saudi Electricity Company) — critical infrastructure automation could be compromised; (5) Healthcare — patient data systems relying on OpenClaw deployments. The vulnerability is especially dangerous in shared development environments common in Saudi enterprises where multiple teams access the same workspace.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Banking and Financial Services
Government and Critical Infrastructure
Telecommunications
Energy and Utilities
Healthcare
Technology and Software Development
Manufacturing
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
T1547 — Boot or Logon Initialization Scripts (environment variable manipulation)
T1574 — Hijack Execution Flow (runtime variable override)
T1036 — Masquerading (malicious dotenv files appearing legitimate)
T1195 — Supply Chain Compromise (via compromised workspace configurations)
T1059 — Command and Scripting Interpreter (arbitrary code execution via overridden variables)
T1027 — Obfuscation (hiding malicious variable definitions in dotenv files)
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
8.2
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Identify all OpenClaw installations in your environment and verify versions prior to 2026.4.20
2. Audit all workspace dotenv files for suspicious OPENCLAW_* variable definitions
3. Review git logs and deployment history for unauthorized changes during source-update and installer flows
4. Isolate affected OpenClaw instances from production environments if version < 2026.4.20
PATCHING GUIDANCE:
1. Upgrade OpenClaw to version 2026.4.20 or later immediately
2. Test patches in non-production environments first
3. Restart all OpenClaw services after patching
4. Verify patch application by checking version output
COMPENSATING CONTROLS (if immediate patching not possible):
1. Implement strict file system permissions on dotenv files (read-only for OpenClaw process)
2. Use environment variable whitelisting — only allow approved OPENCLAW_* variables
3. Implement workspace access controls — restrict who can modify dotenv files
4. Monitor dotenv file modifications with file integrity monitoring (FIM) tools
5. Disable automatic source-update and installer flows until patched
DETECTION RULES:
1. Monitor for dotenv files containing OPENCLAW_GIT_DIR, OPENCLAW_INSTALL_DIR, or other OPENCLAW_* variables
2. Alert on unexpected modifications to workspace dotenv files
3. Log all OpenClaw runtime variable overrides
4. Monitor git operations initiated by OpenClaw for suspicious repository paths
5. Implement SIEM rules: (dotenv modification) AND (OPENCLAW_* variable) = HIGH priority alert
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. حدد جميع تثبيتات OpenClaw في بيئتك وتحقق من الإصدارات السابقة للإصدار 2026.4.20
2. قم بتدقيق جميع ملفات dotenv في مساحة العمل بحثًا عن تعريفات متغيرات OPENCLAW_* المريبة
3. راجع سجلات git وسجل النشر للتغييرات غير المصرح بها أثناء تدفقات تحديث المصدر والمثبت
4. عزل مثيلات OpenClaw المتأثرة عن بيئات الإنتاج إذا كان الإصدار < 2026.4.20
إرشادات التصحيح:
1. قم بترقية OpenClaw إلى الإصدار 2026.4.20 أو أحدث على الفور
2. اختبر التصحيحات في بيئات غير الإنتاج أولاً
3. أعد تشغيل جميع خدمات OpenClaw بعد التصحيح
4. تحقق من تطبيق التصحيح بفحص إخراج الإصدار
الضوابط البديلة (إذا لم يكن التصحيح الفوري ممكنًا):
1. تطبيق أذونات نظام ملفات صارمة على ملفات dotenv (قراءة فقط لعملية OpenClaw)
2. استخدام القائمة البيضاء لمتغيرات البيئة — السماح فقط بمتغيرات OPENCLAW_* المعتمدة
3. تطبيق ضوابط الوصول إلى مساحة العمل — تقييد من يمكنه تعديل ملفات dotenv
4. مراقبة تعديلات ملفات dotenv باستخدام أدوات مراقبة سلامة الملفات (FIM)
5. تعطيل تدفقات تحديث المصدر والمثبت التلقائية حتى يتم التصحيح
قواعد الكشف:
1. مراقبة ملفات dotenv التي تحتوي على OPENCLAW_GIT_DIR أو OPENCLAW_INSTALL_DIR أو متغيرات OPENCLAW_* أخرى
2. تنبيه عند التعديلات غير المتوقعة على ملفات dotenv في مساحة العمل
3. تسجيل جميع تجاوزات متغيرات وقت تشغيل OpenClaw
4. مراقبة عمليات git التي يبدأها OpenClaw للمسارات المريبة
5. تطبيق قواعل SIEM: (تعديل dotenv) و (متغير OPENCLAW_*) = تنبيه ذو أولوية عالية
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
ECC 2024 A.5.1.1 — Information security policies and procedures
ECC 2024 A.5.2.1 — Access control and authorization
ECC 2024 A.5.3.1 — Cryptography and secure configuration
ECC 2024 A.5.4.1 — Secure development and deployment
ECC 2024 A.5.5.1 — Incident detection and response
🔵 SAMA CSF
SAMA CSF Governance — secure software development practices
SAMA CSF Risk Management — supply chain and third-party risk
SAMA CSF Technical Controls — configuration management and change control
SAMA CSF Detection and Response — monitoring and alerting for unauthorized changes
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
ISO 27001:2022 A.5.1.1 — Policies for information security
ISO 27001:2022 A.5.2.1 — Information security roles and responsibilities
ISO 27001:2022 A.5.3.1 — Segregation of duties
ISO 27001:2022 A.5.4.1 — Access control
ISO 27001:2022 A.8.1.1 — Secure development policy
ISO 27001:2022 A.8.2.1 — Change management
ISO 27001:2022 A.8.3.1 — Removal of access rights
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
PCI DSS 2.4 — Configuration standards for system components
PCI DSS 6.2 — Security patches and updates
PCI DSS 6.5.1 — Injection flaws prevention
PCI DSS 8.2.1 — User access control and authentication
🔗 References & Sources 3
🔗
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/018494fa3ebb9145112e68b56fe1cb2e9f9a9ed6
disclosure@vulncheck.com
Patch
🔗
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-hxvm-xjvf-93f3
disclosure@vulncheck.com
Mitigation
Vendor Advisory
🔗
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-environment-variable-namespace-collision-...
disclosure@vulncheck.com
Third Party Advisory
📦 Affected Products / CPE 1 entries
openclaw:openclaw