Using Claude to audit OpenClaw setup reveals security issues
OpenClaw security audit with Claude
A developer shared their experience using Claude to review their OpenClaw setup after encountering operational issues. The user had OpenClaw running on a dedicated computer isolated from their main network, following standard setup instructions and community guidelines.
Setup process and issues encountered
The installation involved:
- Setting up Telegram integration successfully
- Multiple attempts to configure Discord (user attributed initial failures to their own errors)
- Creating a daily news briefing feature
- Regular security audits during setup where OpenClaw identified minor issues that were subsequently fixed
The developer experienced persistent problems with the gateway component, which kept reporting restarts that weren't actually occurring.
Claude security review findings
When Claude was installed on the same machine and asked to audit the OpenClaw setup, it identified several significant security issues:
- The bot was writing API keys in clear text in memory
- API keys were also stored in clear text within JSON files
- Additional security vulnerabilities beyond the API key exposure
After these findings, the developer had OpenClaw clear all exposed API data, and Claude recommended additional security settings to further lock down the installation.
Practical recommendation
The developer, who describes themselves as "technical but not that technical" and concerned about forgetfulness in their late 40s, strongly recommends having Claude recheck OpenClaw setups if possible. Their closing warning: "These bots lie!!"
📖 Read the full source: r/openclaw
👀 See Also
Five Essential Security Steps for OpenClaw Instances
A Reddit post warns that running OpenClaw with default settings creates significant security risks and outlines five immediate actions: change the default port, use Tailscale for private access, configure a firewall, create separate accounts for the agent, and scan skills before installation.
Rules of the Claw: Open Source Security Rule Set for OpenClaw Agents
An open source JSON rule set with 139 security rules that blocks destructive commands, protects credential files, and guards instruction files from unauthorized agent edits. It operates with zero LLM dependency using regex patterns at the tool layer.
Security audit reveals vulnerabilities in OpenClaw skill ecosystem
A security audit of OpenClaw found 8 documented CVEs including arbitrary code execution and credential theft vulnerabilities, plus 15% of skills in the shared library exhibit suspicious network behavior. The auditor migrated to a minimal Rust-based runtime with Ollama for better isolation.
Google Says Criminal Hackers Used AI to Find Zero-Day Vulnerability
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