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Why "OpenClaw" is a Red Team's Dream Target

Why "OpenClaw" is a Red Team's Dream Target

Feb 9, 2026

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If you’ve been on GitHub or X lately, you’ve likely seen the hype around OpenClaw. It promises to be the “digital teammate” we’ve all been waiting for: a self-hosted, always-on AI agent that lives on the local machine and texts you back like a capable intern.

But as offensive security experts, when we see an application with persistent memory, full system access (files, shell, browser), and no “human-in-the-loop” requirement, we don’t just see a productivity tool; we see a critical vulnerability waiting to happen.

Rishabh Singh from our team took a deep dive into OpenClaw’s architecture, and the discoveries are alarming for anyone running this on a production machine. Here is what you need to know before you let this bot manage your life.

The “Messenger First” Trap

OpenClaw distinguishes itself by integrating with the messaging apps you use. It doesn’t wait for you to visit a website; it proactively messages you. While convenient, this “messenger first” design removes the traditional air gap between your casual conversations and your operating system’s kernel.

1. Indirect Prompt Injection: The "Luca" Exploit

The most pervasive risk discovered is Prompt Injection. Because OpenClaw is designed to read your emails and messages to "help" you, it processes untrusted input by default.

In a Proof of Concept (PoC) documented by Singh, an attacker named "Luca" sent a standard email to the victim’s inbox. The email contained a hidden prompt asking the bot to share its configuration file.

  • The Trigger: The bot read the email as part of its routine monitoring.

  • The Execution: Without asking the user for confirmation, OpenClaw processed the "request" inside the email body.

  • The Breach: The bot replied to the attacker with the contents of clawdbot.json, effectively handing over environment variables, paths, and potentially API keys.

While some setups may require approval, many users disable these checks for "seamless" automation, allowing malicious inputs to hijack the agent completely.

2. The Credential Leakage Nightmare

OpenClaw’s reliance on local configuration files makes it a treasure trove for credential harvesting. The analysis found that API keys, OAuth tokens, and environment variables often leak via:

  • Query Parameters: Sensitive tokens visible in URLs.

  • Logs & Browser History: Unencrypted storage of session data.

  • Global Context Leakage: In shared environments (like a Discord group), the bot may accidentally reveal secrets from a private DM session because it lacks proper sandboxing between contexts.

3. Remote Code Execution (RCE)

The most critical technical flaw identified is a Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerability (tracked as CVE-2026-25253). This flaw allows an attacker to hijack the WebSocket connection used by the bot.

  • The Mechanism: Mis-scoped tools and WebSocket hijacking allow an attacker to reconfigure the bot remotely.

  • The Result: An attacker can run arbitrary code on your machine, the same machine hosting your files and logged-in sessions, without your approval.

The Ecosystem Risk

OpenClaw relies on "skills", custom scripts that allow the bot to browse the web or run cron jobs. However, the community marketplace is a minefield. Singh’s report highlights that approximately 12% of community skills are malicious, designed explicitly to exploit the bot's poor isolation to access other data.

Red Sentry’s Verdict: Wait and Sandbox

OpenClaw represents a massive leap in AI utility, but it currently lacks the security architecture to be safe for business or personal use on primary devices.

Our Recommendations:

  • Isolate It: Never run OpenClaw on your main production machine. Use a dedicated VPS or a strict Docker container.

  • Patch Aggressively: Ensure you are on version v2026.2.2 or later to mitigate the known RCE (CVE-2026-25253), though ecosystem risks remain.

  • Limit Access: Do not give the bot root access or unrestricted read/write permissions to your entire home directory.

At Red Sentry, we don't just identify vulnerabilities; we simulate the adversary to show you exactly how they can be exploited. Protect your organization from the next generation of AI-driven threats. Schedule a call with our read team to prevent any attacks.

 

References:

 OpenClaw (2025), GitHub - openclaw/openclaw: Your own personal AI assistant. Any OS. Any Platform. The lobster way. 🦞

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