CVE-2026-53842 json
OpenClaw < 2026.5.2 - Arbitrary Python Runtime Execution via CLOUDSDK_PYTHON Environment Variable
published 5mo ago modified 4mo ago also EUVD-2026-37144 , GHSA-fq9j-vw4w-fr6v
- cvss
- 7.1
- version 3.1, CNA
- cisa kev
- Not listed
- not in CISA's catalog
- epss
- 0.1%
- EPSS 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 2%
- public exploits
- 0
- none known
Summary
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.
Patch / fix
- npm openclaw 2026.5.2
- OpenClaw OpenClaw 2026.5.2
Is CVE-2026-53842 in your dependencies? Fencer shows which of your repositories are affected as soon as an advisory lands, and opens the fix as a pull request.
Check with FencerCISA SSVC
- Exploitation
- none
- Automatable
- no
- Technical impact
- total
- Assessed
- 4mo ago
Exploit prediction
0.13% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 2% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-11).
CVSS scores
| assigned by | version | score | vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNA | 4.0 | 7.0 | 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 |
| CNA | 3.1 | 7.1 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N |
| GitHub | 3.1 | 7.1 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N |
| CNA | 4.0 | 7.0 | 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/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X |
Affected packages
| ecosystem | package | affected | fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm | openclaw | <2026.5.2 |
2026.5.2 |
Affected products
- OpenClaw OpenClaw
Classification
- Weakness
-
- CWE-426 Untrusted Search Path
References
-
github.com
/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-fq9j-vw4w-fr6v
vendor-advisory, web, advisory
-
vulncheck.com
/advisories/openclaw-arbitrary-python-runtime-execution-via-cloudsdk-python-environment-variable
third-party-advisory, web
-
nvd.nist.gov
/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-53842
advisory
-
github.com
/openclaw/openclaw
package
Sources
- CVE List CVE-2026-53842
- GitHub Advisory GHSA-fq9j-vw4w-fr6v
- NVD CVE-2026-53842
- Maintainer advisory GHSA-fq9j-vw4w-fr6v
Fencer Intel keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.
The maintainers of openclaw/openclaw published their own advisory on GitHub. Reviewed sources take precedence over it.