OpenClaw: Workspace dotenv could override runtime-control environment variables

Affected Packages / Versions

• Package: openclaw (npm)
• Affected versions: < 2026.4.20
• Patched version: 2026.4.20

Impact

Workspace .env loading did not reserve the OPENCLAW_ runtime-control namespace broadly enough. A malicious workspace could set variables such as OPENCLAW_GIT_DIR before source-update or installer flows, potentially steering trusted OpenClaw runtime behavior.

This requires running OpenClaw from an attacker-controlled workspace. Severity is medium.

Fix

OpenClaw now reserves the workspace OPENCLAW_ environment namespace and rejects workspace dotenv entries for OpenClaw runtime-control variables.

Fix commit:

• 018494fa3ebb9145112e68b56fe1cb2e9f9a9ed6

Release

Fixed in OpenClaw 2026.4.20.