OpenClaw Deployment Risks to Check
Hosting an agent gives it access to credentials, tools, and infrastructure. Review each boundary before allowing it to act on production systems.
API Keys in Plaintext
Review how API keys, gateway tokens, and bot credentials are stored. Plaintext storage requires restrictive permissions and protection from logs, backups, and unauthorized access.
SSH Root Login Wide Open
Check your actual SSH configuration, allowed users, authentication methods, and network exposure. Restrict administrative access to the people and systems that need it.
World-Readable Files & Folders
Your OpenClaw config directory, .env files, and session logs are readable by any user on the system. File permissions are set to 755 or 644 when they should be locked down.
What to review on your VPS
Review who can read your configuration and environment files, how SSH access is controlled, and whether logs or backups contain tokens. Credential rotation, permissions, and isolation changes should be tested before applying them to a live agent.
Risks Covered by an OpenClaw Review
These examples explain what we inspect. Your findings depend on the agent's configuration, permissions, integrations, and deployment environment.
CRITICAL
- Telegram bot token exposed in plaintext in config files and backup files
- Gateway auth token exposed in same config files (plaintext)
- .env.local files world-readable (644 permissions, should be 600), contains API keys
- SSH PermitRootLogin enabled, with active brute force attempts detected from external IPs
HIGH PRIORITY
- World-readable directories: config directories at 755 permissions (should be 750)
- Tokens copied into session logs or transcripts
- Config backups contain secrets: .bak files with same exposed tokens
- SSH brute force activity detected: multiple failed login attempts from external IPs
The report distinguishes urgent fixes from longer-term hardening. Implementation and verification can be scoped separately.
What We Actually Check
We review the agreed agent and VPS configuration, explain the risks in plain language, and provide specific remediation steps.
Secrets & Token Exposure
Within the agreed scope, inspect configuration, environment files, backups, and session logs for credentials. Check whether secrets can cross from the agent into untrusted output or stored transcripts.
What we check: Config files, .env files, backup files, session logs, MEMORY.md
SSH & Access Hardening
Review root access, key-based authentication, login logs, and network restrictions. Evaluate the server's actual configuration rather than assuming provider defaults are secure or insecure.
What we check: SSH config, login logs, firewall rules, fail2ban setup
File Permissions & Directory Security
We audit every OpenClaw directory and config file for proper permissions. Your .env.local should be 600, not 644. Your OpenClaw config directory should be 750, not 755. Small numbers, big difference.
What we check: File permissions, directory permissions, ownership, umask settings
Backup & Log Hygiene
Config backups (.bak files) often contain the same exposed tokens as the originals. Session logs accumulate secrets over time. We identify every file that needs to be cleaned up or locked down, and show you exactly how.
What we check: Backup files, session logs, log rotation, sensitive data cleanup
What You Get After the Audit
A clear report with every issue found, severity ratings, and step-by-step instructions to fix each one. No guesswork.
Common Questions
Everything you need to know about securing your OpenClaw setup.
Why does my OpenClaw VPS need a security audit?
An agent can access credentials, files, and tools with the permissions you give it. A review checks the agreed deployment for secret exposure, excessive access, unsafe configuration, and isolation gaps before the agent operates on sensitive systems.
I'm not technical. Can I still fix the issues you find?
Findings include plain-language explanations and practical remediation steps. If you need implementation support, we can agree on that separately and verify changes within the agreed scope.
How long does the audit take?
A focused VPS and agent review may take one to two business days. Multiple agents, custom tools, or complex integrations can need more time. We confirm the scope and delivery date before kickoff.
What does an OpenClaw security review cover?
We review credential handling, SSH access, file permissions, logs, backups, and the agent's access to tools and infrastructure. Findings depend on the actual configuration; a checklist is not evidence that a particular deployment is vulnerable.
Can I just ask OpenClaw to audit its own server?
Automated checks can help collect information, but review commands and proposed changes before applying them. An agent should not be its own approval boundary for production access or configuration changes.
How long does remediation take?
The time depends on the findings, deployment, and whether credentials or integrations need to change. We prioritize urgent issues and agree on implementation and verification work separately.
What does the review summary confirm?
The summary records the scope, findings, and any remediation that was verified. It is not an independent certification or a guarantee that every vulnerability has been found.
How much does an OpenClaw audit cost?
Pricing depends on the number of agents, integrations, deployment complexity, and whether implementation support is included. Book a free intro call for a fixed-scope quote.
Need help deploying or configuring OpenClaw? Axentia offers OpenClaw deployment services.