OpenClaw: MCP stdio server env could load dangerous startup variables from workspace config
Affected Packages / Versions
- Package:
openclaw(npm) - Affected versions:
< 2026.4.20 - Patched version:
2026.4.20
Impact
Workspace MCP stdio configuration could pass dangerous process-startup environment variables such as NODE_OPTIONS, LD_PRELOAD, or BASH_ENV to the spawned MCP server process. In a malicious workspace, this could make the MCP child load attacker-controlled code when the operator starts a session that uses that MCP server.
The impact is limited to local/workspace trust boundaries and requires the operator to run OpenClaw in a workspace containing the malicious MCP configuration. Severity is therefore medium, not high/critical.
Fix
OpenClaw now filters MCP stdio environment entries through the host environment safety denylist before spawning stdio MCP servers.
Fix commits:
62fa5071896e95edc7f67d1cebc70a2859e283af85d86ebc4bf3d2226d39d132a484f4f7a299fa1b
Release
Fixed in OpenClaw 2026.4.20.
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm package | openclaw | < 2026.4.20 | 2026.4.20 |
References
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-mj59-h3q9-ghfh
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-44995
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/62fa5071896e95edc7f67d1cebc70a2859e283af
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/85d86ebc4bf3d2226d39d132a484f4f7a299fa1b
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-arbitrary-code-execution-via-mcp-stdio-environment-variables
- CVSS vector
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-427, CWE-454, CWE-829- Platform
- npm
- Package
openclaw- Disclosed
- 25.04.2026
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-mj59-h3q9-ghfh - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: openclaw
All published vulnerabilities of this package (npm package), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 588
- First → latest
- 02.2026 07.2026
- Without a fix
- 9
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Critical 20
- High 215
- Medium 299
- Low 54
Disclosures per year
- 2026: 588
-
OpenClaw: MCP stdio server env could load dangerous startup variables from workspace config this entry
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