CVE-2026-53842 | OpenClaw before 2026.5.2 contains an environment variable in… | CVSS 7.1 HIGH

Description

OpenClaw before 2026.5.2 contains an environment variable injection vulnerability allowing workspace .env files to influence Python runtime selection through CLOUDSDK_PYTHON during Gmail setup gcloud execution. Attackers with repository access can manipulate the CLOUDSDK_PYTHON variable to execute setup through unintended local Python paths, potentially enabling arbitrary code execution.

Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2026-53842
State: PUBLISHED
Assigner: VulnCheck
Reserved: 2026-06-10 21:19 UTC
Published: 2026-06-16 18:04 UTC
Last updated: 2026-06-16 19:34 UTC
Primary CWE: CWE-426
Untrusted Search Path
Vendor / Product: OpenClaw / OpenClaw
Sources: cve.org · NVD

Severity & Metrics

7.1 HIGH CVSS 3.1

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N

SSVC — CISA Coordinator

Exploitation: none
Automatable: no
Tech. Impact: total

Affected products (1)

Vendor	Product	Platform	Versions
OpenClaw	OpenClaw	—	0 < 2026.5.2, 2026.5.2

Weakness (CWE)

CWE	Source	Description
CWE-426	cna	Untrusted Search Path

CVSS scores (2)

Score	Severity	Version	Source	Vector
7.1	HIGH	3.1	cna	CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
7.0	HIGH	4.0	cna	CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

References (2)

GitHub Security Advisory (GHSA-fq9j-vw4w-fr6v) https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-fq9j-vw4w-fr6v
VulnCheck Advisory: OpenClaw < 2026.5.2 - Arbitrary Python Runtime Execution via CLOUDSDK_PYTHON Environment Variable https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-arbitrary-python-runtime-execution-via-cloudsdk-python-environment-variable