OpenClaw's Gregarious Insecurities Make Safe Usage Difficult

darkreading

February 6, 2026 at 3:42 PM

Overview

Security researchers have identified several significant vulnerabilities within the OpenClaw AI assistant that complicate its safe use. Users reported that malicious 'skills' could be installed, potentially leading to unauthorized access or misuse of the assistant's capabilities. Additionally, the configuration settings for the application are described as finicky, making it difficult for users to ensure secure setups. These issues raise concerns for both individual users and organizations considering using OpenClaw, as they could expose sensitive data and create security risks. Proper attention to these vulnerabilities is crucial to protect users and maintain trust in AI technologies.

Key Takeaways

Affected Systems: OpenClaw AI assistant
Action Required: Users should review and restrict the permissions granted to skills, and ensure proper configuration settings are applied.
Timeline: Newly disclosed

Original Article Summary

Malicious "skills" and persnickety configuration settings are just some of the issues that security researchers have found when installing — and removing — the OpenClaw AI assistant.

Impact

OpenClaw AI assistant

Exploitation Status

The exploitation status is currently unknown. Monitor vendor advisories and security bulletins for updates.

Timeline

Newly disclosed

Remediation

Users should review and restrict the permissions granted to skills, and ensure proper configuration settings are applied. Regular updates should be monitored for any patches addressing these vulnerabilities.

Additional Information

This threat intelligence is aggregated from trusted cybersecurity sources. For the most up-to-date information, technical details, and official vendor guidance, please refer to the original article linked below.

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