Openclaw cli: OpenClaw's config env vars allowed startup env injection into service runtime (CVE-2026-22177)
Description
OpenClaw CLI versions up to 2026.2.19-2 allowed dangerous environment variables from configuration to propagate into the gateway service runtime environment. This flaw enabled startup-time code execution within the OpenClaw process context by injecting process-control environment variables such as NODE_OPTIONS and LD_*. The vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2026-22177 and has a high severity CVSS score of 8.8. A patch is available in version 2026.2.21 and later.
CVSS v3.1
Score 8.8high
Affected software
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AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
OpenClaw's config environment variable handling function `collectConfigEnvVars()` accepted unfiltered keys from configuration, merging them into the daemon install environment in `buildGatewayInstallPlan()`. This allowed dangerous process-control environment variables (e.g., NODE_OPTIONS, LD_*, DYLD_*) to flow into the gateway service runtime environment, enabling code execution at startup within the OpenClaw process context. The vulnerability affects openclaw-cli versions up to and including 2026.2.19-2 and 2026.2.19. The issue was fixed in version 2026.2.21 by blocking startup-control variables from this path.
Potential Impact
An attacker with the ability to modify OpenClaw's configuration environment variables could inject process-control variables that lead to arbitrary code execution during service startup. This results in full compromise of the OpenClaw process with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. The CVSS 3.1 score is 8.8 (high severity).
Mitigation Recommendations
A patch is available in OpenClaw CLI version 2026.2.21 and later. Users should upgrade to version 2026.2.21 or newer to remediate this vulnerability. No additional mitigation steps are indicated by the vendor advisory.
Technical Details
- Gcve Source
- db.gcve.eu
- Osv Id
- BREW-openclaw-cli-CVE-2026-22177
- Osv Schema Version
- 1.7.3
- Ecosystems
- ["Homebrew"]
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
Threat ID: 6ac245d112601ec6a3168000
Added to database: 10/04/2026, 12:25:53 UTC
Last enriched: 10/04/2026, 13:15:15 UTC
Last updated: 10/04/2026, 16:08:36 UTC
Views: 2
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