CVE-2026-53842

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.

CVSS v3.1 Score

7.1

HIGH

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

EPSS — Exploit Prediction

0.0013

Probability of exploitation

0.03%

Percentile rank

EPSS estimates the probability that this vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. A higher score means more likely to be exploited.

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-426 CWE-426

Affected Products

Vendor	Product	Versions
openclaw	openclaw	< 2026.5.2
openclaw	openclaw	All
openclaw	openclaw	All
openclaw	openclaw	All

References

Advisories & Patches

https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-fq9j-vw4w-fr6v

Other References

https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-arbitrary-python-runtime-execution-via-cloudsdk-python-environment-variable

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-53842? +

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. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.1 (HIGH).

How severe is CVE-2026-53842? +

CVE-2026-53842 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 7.1 out of 10, rated HIGH. This is a high-severity vulnerability that should be prioritized for patching. The EPSS score is 0.0013, placing it in the 0th percentile for exploitation probability.

What products are affected by CVE-2026-53842? +

CVE-2026-53842 affects products from openclaw, specifically: openclaw. Check the affected products table above for specific version ranges.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2026-53842? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

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