How severe is CVE-2026-53842?

CVE-2026-53842 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.1, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability none.

Is CVE-2026-53842 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (3rd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2026-53842?

CVE-2026-53842 primarily affects Openclaw. In total, 4 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2026-53842?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

Does CVE-2026-53842 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?

Yes. CVE-2026-53842 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2026-37144.

When was CVE-2026-53842 published?

CVE-2026-53842 was published on 2026-06-16 and last updated on 2026-06-18.

CVE-2026-53842

CVE-2026-53842 is a high-severity vulnerability in Openclaw with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.1. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-426.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.1)
CVSS v4: 7.0
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (3rd percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
EU (EUVD) id: EUVD-2026-37144
Weakness: CWE-426
Affected product: Openclaw
Published: 2026-06-16
Last modified: 2026-06-18

Description

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.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2026-53842?: 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.
How severe is CVE-2026-53842?: CVE-2026-53842 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.1, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability none.
Is CVE-2026-53842 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (3rd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2026-53842?: CVE-2026-53842 primarily affects Openclaw. In total, 4 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2026-53842?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
Does CVE-2026-53842 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?: Yes. CVE-2026-53842 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2026-37144.
When was CVE-2026-53842 published?: CVE-2026-53842 was published on 2026-06-16 and last updated on 2026-06-18.

References

Affected products (4)

cpe:2.3:a:openclaw:openclaw:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:openclaw:openclaw:2026.5.2:beta1:*:*:*:node.js:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:openclaw:openclaw:2026.5.2:beta2:*:*:*:node.js:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:openclaw:openclaw:2026.5.2:beta3:*:*:*:node.js:*:*

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