Summary
OpenClaw loaded the current working directory .env before trusted state-dir configuration, allowing untrusted workspace state to inject host environment values.
Affected Component
src/infra/dotenv.ts, src/cli/dotenv.ts
Fixed Versions
- Affected:
<= 2026.3.24 - Patched:
>= 2026.3.28 - Latest stable
2026.3.28contains the fix.
Impact
A repository or workspace containing a malicious .env file could override runtime configuration and security-sensitive environment settings when OpenClaw started there.
CVE-2026-41294 has a CVSS score of 9.6 (Critical). The vector is network-reachable, no privileges required, and user interaction required. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. A fixed version is available (2026.3.28); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
Remediation advice
Fixed by commit 6a79324802 (Filter untrusted CWD .env entries before OpenClaw startup).
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2026-41294? CVE-2026-41294 is a critical-severity security vulnerability in openclaw (npm), affecting versions <= 2026.3.24. It is fixed in 2026.3.28.
- How severe is CVE-2026-41294? CVE-2026-41294 has a CVSS score of 9.6 (Critical). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
- Which versions of openclaw are affected by CVE-2026-41294? openclaw (npm) versions <= 2026.3.24 is affected.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2026-41294? Yes. CVE-2026-41294 is fixed in 2026.3.28. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2026-41294 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2026-41294 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether CVE-2026-41294 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
- How do I fix CVE-2026-41294? Upgrade
openclawto 2026.3.28 or later.