OpenClaw: HGRCPATH, CARGO_BUILD_RUSTC_WRAPPER, RUSTC_WRAPPER, and MAKEFLAGS missing from exec env denylist — RCE via build tool env injection (GHSA-cm8v-2vh9-cxf3 class)

MEDIUM 5.3CVE-2026-42427 · GHSA-7437-7hg8-frrw · Published 28/04/2026 · updated 17/06/2026

In short

CVE-2026-42427 is a MEDIUM (CVSS 5.3) vulnerability affecting openclaw (openclaw), openclaw.
Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS): 0.19%, higher than 8.4% of all vulnerabilities.
Fix: update to 2026.4.8 or later.

Package	Affected versions	Patched versions
openclaw openclaw	`< 2026.4.8`	`2026.4.8`
openclaw npm	`< 2026.4.8`	`2026.4.8`

Description

Impact

HGRCPATH, CARGO_BUILD_RUSTC_WRAPPER, RUSTC_WRAPPER, and MAKEFLAGS missing from exec env denylist — RCE via build tool env injection (GHSA-cm8v-2vh9-cxf3 class).

Missing denylist entries allowed hostile build-tool environment variables to influence host exec commands.

OpenClaw is a user-controlled local assistant. This advisory is scoped to the OpenClaw trust model and does not assume a multi-tenant service boundary.

Affected Packages / Versions

Package: openclaw (npm)
Affected versions: < 2026.4.8
Patched versions: 2026.4.8

Fix

The issue was fixed on main and is available in the patched npm version listed above. The verified fixed tree is commit d7c3210cd6f5fdfdc1beff4c9541673e814354d5.

Verification

The fix was re-checked against main before publication, including targeted regression tests for the affected security boundary.

Credits

Thanks @boy-hack of Tencent zhuque Lab (https://github.com/Tencent/AI-Infra-Guard) for reporting.

NVD description

OpenClaw before 2026.4.8 contains a remote code execution vulnerability caused by missing environment variable denylist entries for HGRCPATH, CARGO_BUILD_RUSTC_WRAPPER, RUSTC_WRAPPER, and MAKEFLAGS. Attackers can inject malicious build tool environment variables to influence host exec commands and achieve arbitrary code execution.

References

openclaw/openclaw security advisory · WEB
openclaw/openclaw commit d7c3210 · WEB
openclaw/openclaw · PACKAGE
vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-remote-code-execution-via-build-tool-environment-variable-injection · Third Party Advisory

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Package

Affected versions

Patched versions

openclaw

< 2026.4.8

2026.4.8

openclaw

npm

< 2026.4.8

2026.4.8

Description

Impact

HGRCPATH, CARGO_BUILD_RUSTC_WRAPPER, RUSTC_WRAPPER, and MAKEFLAGS missing from exec env denylist — RCE via build tool env injection (GHSA-cm8v-2vh9-cxf3 class).

Missing denylist entries allowed hostile build-tool environment variables to influence host exec commands.

OpenClaw is a user-controlled local assistant. This advisory is scoped to the OpenClaw trust model and does not assume a multi-tenant service boundary.

Affected Packages / Versions

Package: openclaw (npm)
Affected versions: < 2026.4.8
Patched versions: 2026.4.8

Fix

The issue was fixed on main and is available in the patched npm version listed above. The verified fixed tree is commit d7c3210cd6f5fdfdc1beff4c9541673e814354d5.

Verification

The fix was re-checked against main before publication, including targeted regression tests for the affected security boundary.

Credits

Thanks @boy-hack of Tencent zhuque Lab (https://github.com/Tencent/AI-Infra-Guard) for reporting.

NVD description

More vulnerabilities in openclaw

See all →