CVE-2026-45003: OpenClaw Workspace Dotenv Files Cannot Override Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-55cf-xx38-4p9p
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CWE-427 CWE-610
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-45003 is a MODERATE workspace dotenv files cannot override vulnerability (CWE-427: Uncontrolled Search Path Element) affecting OpenClaw libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves workspace dotenv files cannot override connector endpoint hosts. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2026.4.22.

CVE-2026-45003 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-45003
GHSA Identifier GHSA-55cf-xx38-4p9p
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-427: Uncontrolled Search Path Element
Affected Product OpenClaw
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2026-45003

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: 2026.4.22 
npm install openclaw@2026.4.22
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-2026-45003, 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 2026.4.22), 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 Workspace dotenv files cannot override connector endpoint hosts. ## Affected Packages / Versions - Package: openclaw (npm) - Affected versions: <= 2026.4.21 - Fixed version: 2026.4.22 ## Impact A workspace .env file could set connector endpoint variables for Matrix, Mattermost, IRC, or Synology-related connectors and redirect runtime traffic away from the operator-configured endpoint. ## Fix Workspace .env loading now blocks those endpoint variables, including per-account Matrix homeserver suffixes and generic base-url/API-host style overrides. Trusted global runtime dotenv loading remains separate. ## Fix Commit(s) - 0623079e98abf7202591f1b04a89755eb7ec9272 ## Verification - The fix commit is contained in the public v2026.4.22 tag. - openclaw@2026.4.22 is published on npm and the compiled package contains the fix. - Focused regression coverage for this path passed before publication. OpenClaw thanks @qi-scape for reporting.

CVE-2026-45003 Affected OpenClaw Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2026.4.22
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
openclaw
npm/openclaw
npm
< 2026.4.22
2026.4.22

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-55cf-xx38-4p9p
NVD — CVE-2026-45003 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-45003
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/0623079e98abf7202591f1b04a89755eb7ec9272
OpenClaw Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw
www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw... WEB
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-connector-endpoint-host-override-via-workspace-dotenv-files

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-45003?
CVE-2026-45003 is a security vulnerability in OpenClaw involving Workspace dotenv files cannot override connector endpoint hosts under CWE-427: Uncontrolled Search Path Element.
Which OpenClaw versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2026.4.22 across affected packages: openclaw.
What version fixes CVE-2026-45003?
Upgrading to 2026.4.22 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is openclaw affected?
Yes, openclaw is affected in releases prior to 2026.4.22. Upgrade your dependency to 2026.4.22 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-45003?
CVE-2026-45003 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-2026-45003?
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-55cf-xx38-4p9p",
  "modified" : "2026-05-19T15:56:37Z",
  "published" : "2026-05-04T20:22:15Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-45003" ],
  "summary" : "OpenClaw: Workspace dotenv files cannot override connector endpoint hosts",
  "details" : "## Summary\nWorkspace dotenv files cannot override connector endpoint hosts.\n\n## Affected Packages / Versions\n- Package: openclaw (npm)\n- Affected versions: <= 2026.4.21\n- Fixed version: 2026.4.22\n\n## Impact\nA workspace .env file could set connector endpoint variables for Matrix, Mattermost, IRC, or Synology-related connectors and redirect runtime traffic away from the operator-configured endpoint.\n\n## Fix\nWorkspace .env loading now blocks those endpoint variables, including per-account Matrix homeserver suffixes and generic base-url/API-host style overrides. Trusted global runtime dotenv loading remains separate.\n\n## Fix Commit(s)\n- 0623079e98abf7202591f1b04a89755eb7ec9272\n\n## Verification\n- The fix commit is contained in the public v2026.4.22 tag.\n- openclaw@2026.4.22 is published on npm and the compiled package contains the fix.\n- Focused regression coverage for this path passed before publication.\n\nOpenClaw thanks @qi-scape for reporting.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "openclaw"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2026.4.22"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 2026.4.21"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-55cf-xx38-4p9p"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-45003"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/0623079e98abf7202591f1b04a89755eb7ec9272"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-connector-endpoint-host-override-via-workspace-dotenv-files"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-427", "CWE-610" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-05-04T20:22:15Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}