OpenClaw (formerly Clawdbot) is a personal AI assistant you run on your own devices. Prior to 2026.1.29, a command injection vulnerability existed in OpenClaw’s Docker sandbox execution mechanism due to unsafe handling of the PATH environment variable when constructing shell commands. An authenticated user able to control environment variables could influence command execution within the container context. This vulnerability is fixed in 2026.1.29.
This vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands within the container, posing a significant risk to the integrity and confidentiality of the system. The CVSS score of 8.8 indicates that this is a high-severity vulnerability, emphasizing the need for immediate action.
Risk to organizations includes potential unauthorized access to sensitive data and disruption of services. Therefore, organizations should prioritize patching immediately.
As of now, there are no known exploits or proof-of-concept codes available for this vulnerability. However, the nature of the flaw suggests that it could be exploited by malicious actors if left unaddressed.
Organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle to mitigate the associated risks.
Vulnerability Details
The command injection vulnerability is categorized under CWE-78. It affects OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.1.29 and has a CVSS score of 8.8, describing the severity as high.
The vulnerability was published on February 2, 2026, and has been analyzed. The attack vector is network-based with low attack complexity, requiring low privileges and no user interaction for exploitation.
The impacts of this vulnerability are significant, affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability due to potential arbitrary command execution.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of the vulnerability stems from the insecure handling of the PATH environment variable in OpenClaw's Docker execution mechanism. This allows an authenticated user to manipulate the environment variables, leading to command injection.
The attack vector is network-based, with an attack complexity classified as low. Attackers require low privileges to exploit this vulnerability, and no user interaction is needed to execute arbitrary commands.
The potential impacts include high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts, as attackers can execute arbitrary commands that could lead to data breaches or service disruptions.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Organizations using OpenClaw should be aware of the risks associated with this vulnerability, particularly in environments where sensitive data is processed or stored. The potential for attackers to leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary commands presents a significant threat.
The blast radius for this vulnerability can extend to all containers running OpenClaw, potentially affecting multiple systems and services. Given the high CVSS score, organizations should assess their exposure and prioritize remediation efforts.
Urgency for remediation is high. Organizations should schedule updates and apply patches as soon as possible to mitigate the risk of exploitation.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
All versions of OpenClaw prior to 2026.1.29 are affected by this vulnerability. Organizations must ensure they upgrade to this version or later to mitigate the risk.
Mitigation & Remediation
To remediate this vulnerability, organizations should apply the latest patch, which is version 2026.1.29. If patching is not immediately possible, consider implementing workarounds such as restricting access to the environment variable settings for users.
For further security enhancement, organizations should conduct regular security assessments and consider adopting a security testing program to identify similar weaknesses in their applications.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation attempts, organizations should monitor logs for unusual command executions or unauthorized changes to environment variables. Additionally, network traffic analysis may reveal anomalous behavior consistent with attempts to exploit this vulnerability.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The discovery of this vulnerability highlights the ongoing need for secure coding practices and thorough testing of applications prior to deployment. Organizations should incorporate security assessments into their development lifecycle to reduce the risk of similar vulnerabilities.
For more insights on secure coding and application security, refer to our articles on secure coding practices and penetration testing methodology to strengthen your defenses against vulnerabilities.
Additionally, organizations should consider utilizing red teaming services to proactively identify and remediate security weaknesses in their infrastructure.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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