CVE-2026-41373: OpenClaw Incomplete Host-env-security-policy Allows Untrusted Model Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-g8xp-qx39-9jq9
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CVSS 6.1
CWE-427
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-41373 is a HIGH (CVSS 6.1) incomplete host-env-security-policy allows untrusted model vulnerability (CWE-427: Uncontrolled Search Path Element) affecting OpenClaw libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves incomplete host-env-security-policy allows untrusted model to substitute compiler binaries via env overrides. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2026.3.31.

CVE-2026-41373 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-41373
GHSA Identifier GHSA-g8xp-qx39-9jq9
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.1
CWE Classification CWE-427: Uncontrolled Search Path Element
Affected Product OpenClaw
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.1

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:N).

Attack Vector Local (AV:L)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required Low (PR:L)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality Low (C:L)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2026-41373

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected OpenClaw dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

openclaw fixed: 2026.3.31 
npm install openclaw@2026.3.31
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

npm ls openclaw

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2026-41373, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls openclaw

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of OpenClaw in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2026.3.31), your application is affected.

Note: The npm ls openclaw command inspects dependencies declared in your package.json and lockfile; it does not perform automated runtime dynamic scanning.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-427: Uncontrolled Search Path Element, where the product uses a fixed or controlled search path to find resources, but one or more locations in that path can be under the control of unintended actors. In OpenClaw, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

## Summary Incomplete `host-env-security-policy.json` allows untrusted model to substitute compiler binaries (`CC`, `CXX`, `CARGO_BUILD_RUSTC`, `CMAKE_C_COMPILER`) via env overrides on approved host exec requests ## Current Maintainer Triage - Status: narrow - Normalized severity: medium - Assessment: Shipped v2026.3.28 host-env policy missed compiler override vars, but exploitation still requires an approved host-exec request inside the existing exec trust domain, so medium not high. ## Affected Packages / Versions - Package: `openclaw` (npm) - Latest published npm version: `2026.3.31` - Vulnerable version range: `<=2026.3.28` - Patched versions: `>= 2026.3.31` - First stable tag containing the fix: `v2026.3.31` ## Fix Commit(s) - `e277a37f896b5011a1df06e6490c6630074d0afa` — 2026-03-30T20:06:32+01:00 OpenClaw thanks @tdjackey for reporting.

CVE-2026-41373 Affected OpenClaw Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2026.3.31
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
openclaw
npm/openclaw
npm
< 2026.3.31
2026.3.31

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-g8xp-qx39-9jq9
NVD — CVE-2026-41373 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-41373
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/e277a37f896b5011a1df06e6490c6630074d0afa
OpenClaw Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw
OpenClaw Release RELEASE
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/releases/tag/v2026.3.31
www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw... WEB
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-compiler-binary-substitution-via-environment-variable-override-in-host-execution-policy

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-41373?
CVE-2026-41373 is a security vulnerability in OpenClaw involving Incomplete host-env-security-policy allows untrusted model to substitute compiler binaries via env overrides under CWE-427: Uncontrolled Search Path Element.
Which OpenClaw versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2026.3.31 across affected packages: openclaw.
What version fixes CVE-2026-41373?
Upgrading to 2026.3.31 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is openclaw affected?
Yes, openclaw is affected in releases prior to 2026.3.31. Upgrade your dependency to 2026.3.31 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-41373?
CVE-2026-41373 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.1 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-41373?
CVE-2026-41373 is classified under CWE-427: Uncontrolled Search Path Element (The product uses a fixed or controlled search path to find resources, but one or more locations in that path can be under the control of unintended actors.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2026-41373?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls openclaw'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-g8xp-qx39-9jq9",
  "modified" : "2026-05-06T02:39:12Z",
  "published" : "2026-04-03T03:00:51Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-41373" ],
  "summary" : "OpenClaw: Incomplete host-env-security-policy allows untrusted model to substitute compiler binaries via env overrides",
  "details" : "## Summary\nIncomplete `host-env-security-policy.json` allows untrusted model to substitute compiler binaries (`CC`, `CXX`, `CARGO_BUILD_RUSTC`, `CMAKE_C_COMPILER`) via env overrides on approved host exec requests\n\n## Current Maintainer Triage\n- Status: narrow\n- Normalized severity: medium\n- Assessment: Shipped v2026.3.28 host-env policy missed compiler override vars, but exploitation still requires an approved host-exec request inside the existing exec trust domain, so medium not high.\n\n## Affected Packages / Versions\n- Package: `openclaw` (npm)\n- Latest published npm version: `2026.3.31`\n- Vulnerable version range: `<=2026.3.28`\n- Patched versions: `>= 2026.3.31`\n- First stable tag containing the fix: `v2026.3.31`\n\n## Fix Commit(s)\n- `e277a37f896b5011a1df06e6490c6630074d0afa` — 2026-03-30T20:06:32+01:00\n\nOpenClaw thanks @tdjackey for reporting.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:N"
  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "openclaw"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2026.3.31"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 2026.3.28"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-g8xp-qx39-9jq9"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-41373"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/e277a37f896b5011a1df06e6490c6630074d0afa"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/releases/tag/v2026.3.31"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-compiler-binary-substitution-via-environment-variable-override-in-host-execution-policy"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-427" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-04-03T03:00:51Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-04-28T19:37:39Z"
  }
}