fix: apply config env vars before model discovery (#32295) (thanks @hsiaoa)

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai
 ### Fixes
 
 - Gateway/Control UI basePath webhook passthrough: let non-read methods under configured `controlUiBasePath` fall through to plugin routes (instead of returning Control UI 405), restoring webhook handlers behind basePath mounts. (#32311) Thanks @ademczuk.
+- Models/config env propagation: apply `config.env.vars` before implicit provider discovery in models bootstrap so config-scoped credentials are visible to implicit provider resolution paths. (#32295) Thanks @hsiaoa.
 - Voice-call/Twilio signature verification: retry signature validation across deterministic URL port variants (with/without port) to handle mixed Twilio signing behavior behind reverse proxies and non-standard ports. (#25140) Thanks @drvoss.
 - Hooks/webhook ACK compatibility: return `200` (instead of `202`) for successful `/hooks/agent` requests so providers that require `200` (for example Forward Email) accept dispatched agent hook deliveries. (#28204) Thanks @Glucksberg.
 - Voice-call/Twilio external outbound: auto-register webhook-first `outbound-api` calls (initiated outside OpenClaw) so media streams are accepted and call direction metadata stays accurate. (#31181) Thanks @scoootscooob.

src/agents/models-config.applies-config-env-vars.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import type { OpenClawConfig } from "../config/config.js";
+import {
+  CUSTOM_PROXY_MODELS_CONFIG,
+  installModelsConfigTestHooks,
+  unsetEnv,
+  withModelsTempHome as withTempHome,
+  withTempEnv,
+} from "./models-config.e2e-harness.js";
+import { ensureOpenClawModelsJson } from "./models-config.js";
+
+installModelsConfigTestHooks();
+
+const TEST_ENV_VAR = "OPENCLAW_MODELS_CONFIG_TEST_ENV";
+
+describe("models-config", () => {
+  it("applies config env.vars entries while ensuring models.json", async () => {
+    await withTempHome(async () => {
+      await withTempEnv([TEST_ENV_VAR], async () => {
+        unsetEnv([TEST_ENV_VAR]);
+        const cfg: OpenClawConfig = {
+          ...CUSTOM_PROXY_MODELS_CONFIG,
+          env: { vars: { [TEST_ENV_VAR]: "from-config" } },
+        };
+
+        await ensureOpenClawModelsJson(cfg);
+
+        expect(process.env[TEST_ENV_VAR]).toBe("from-config");
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("does not overwrite already-set host env vars", async () => {
+    await withTempHome(async () => {
+      await withTempEnv([TEST_ENV_VAR], async () => {
+        process.env[TEST_ENV_VAR] = "from-host";
+        const cfg: OpenClawConfig = {
+          ...CUSTOM_PROXY_MODELS_CONFIG,
+          env: { vars: { [TEST_ENV_VAR]: "from-config" } },
+        };
+
+        await ensureOpenClawModelsJson(cfg);
+
+        expect(process.env[TEST_ENV_VAR]).toBe("from-host");
+      });
+    });
+  });
+});