How to Verify Any OpenClaw Skill in 30 Seconds

Step-by-step guide to scanning OpenClaw skills before installing. Paste a URL, get a full security audit report with OWASP ASI Top 10 coverage in under 30 seconds.

🛡️
ClawSecure Team
Security Research

Before you install any OpenClaw skill, you should verify it is safe. With over 41% of popular OpenClaw skills containing security vulnerabilities and active malware campaigns like ClawHavoc targeting the ecosystem, scanning before installation is the single most important action any OpenClaw user can take. Here is how to verify any OpenClaw skill using ClawSecure's free security scanner in under 30 seconds.

Step 1: Find the OpenClaw Skill URL

To scan an OpenClaw skill, you need either the skill's ClawHub URL, its GitHub repository URL, or just the skill name. ClawSecure's scanner accepts all three formats:

  • ClawHub URL: clawhub.ai/skills/creator/skill-name
  • GitHub URL: github.com/owner/repo (for skills hosted on GitHub)
  • Skill name: Just type the name, such as peekaboo, and ClawSecure will resolve it automatically

You can find skill URLs on ClawHub, in the OpenClaw skill directory, or in GitHub repositories. If you already have a skill installed locally, you can also upload the zip file directly.

Step 2: Paste the URL and Scan the OpenClaw Skill

Go to ClawSecure's scanner and paste the URL into the scan input field. Click "Scan" or press Enter. The scan runs through all three security layers of our 3-Layer Audit Protocol automatically:

  • Layer 1: ClawSecure Proprietary Intelligence checks for 55+ OpenClaw-specific threat patterns including ClawHavoc malware, C2 callbacks, credential harvesting, and ReDoS vulnerabilities.
  • Layer 2: Advanced Static and Behavioral Analysis performs YARA pattern matching and behavioral dataflow analysis to detect prompt injection, code obfuscation, and the "Lethal Trifecta" of agentic risks (Palo Alto Networks, 2026).
  • Layer 3: Supply Chain Security scans the entire npm dependency tree against known CVE databases to catch vulnerable third-party libraries.

ClawSecure provides full OWASP Top 10 for Agentic Applications coverage across all three layers. The entire scan completes in under 30 seconds.

Step 3: Review Your Security Audit Report

After the scan completes, ClawSecure generates a detailed Security Audit Report. Every report includes:

  • A security score from 0 to 100 based on the severity and quantity of findings
  • A risk level classification: Safe (80-100), Caution (50-79), or High Risk (0-49)
  • Detailed findings grouped by severity: Critical, High, Medium, and Low
  • Layer attribution showing which of the three security engines detected each finding
  • A SHA-256 content hash for verifying code integrity over time
  • Context-Aware Analysis that explains findings in the context of what OpenClaw agents normally do

Each report is publicly shareable via a unique URL, so you can send it to skill creators or share it with your team.

What Each Security Score Means

80+

ClawSecure Verified. This OpenClaw skill has passed our 3-Layer Audit Protocol with a score of 80 or above. It is considered safe for installation. Minor findings may exist (such as missing metadata) but no substantive security threats were detected.

Score 60-79 (Caution): The OpenClaw skill has some security findings that warrant review before installation. Check the detailed findings in the report to understand the specific issues. Common findings in this range include unpinned dependency versions, broad file system access patterns, or missing permissions manifests. The skill may still be safe to use, but you should understand the risks.

Score 40-59 (Elevated Risk): Multiple security findings detected. Review the report carefully and consider whether you trust the skill creator before installing. Skills in this range often have medium-severity findings like unsafe data handling or broad network access.

Score 0-39 (High Risk): Significant security vulnerabilities detected, potentially including malware indicators, credential harvesting, or C2 callbacks. Do not install this skill. Our security analysis found that 7.3% of audited OpenClaw skills fall below a score of 50. If you encounter one, report it to the OpenClaw community and share the ClawSecure report URL.

Step 4: Monitor for Changes with Watchtower

A clean scan today does not mean the OpenClaw skill stays safe forever. Developers push updates, and ClawHavoc sleeper variants specifically exploit this by publishing clean code initially and adding malicious payloads in later updates. ClawSecure detected 35 skills with changed code within the first 24 hours of activating our Watchtower monitoring system.

ClawSecure's Watchtower monitors 2,880+ tracked skills 24/7. When a developer pushes an update and the code changes, Watchtower detects the SHA-256 hash drift and automatically triggers a full 3-layer re-audit. You can subscribe to Watchtower alerts on any skill's report page to get notified when a skill's code changes.

You can also re-scan any OpenClaw skill manually at any time to get the latest security status. The scan is always free.

Can I Scan Private or Local OpenClaw Skills?

Yes. In addition to URL-based scanning, ClawSecure supports direct file upload. If you have a skill as a zip file on your local machine, whether it is private, in development, or downloaded from a source other than ClawHub, you can upload it directly through the scanner interface. The file upload tab accepts zip files and runs the same full 3-layer security audit.

This is particularly useful for OpenClaw skill creators who want to verify their own skills before publishing and earn ClawSecure Verified status.

How Often Should I Re-Scan OpenClaw Skills?

For skills you depend on daily, check their current status at least once a week. ClawSecure's security registry shows the most recent scan data for 2,890+ audited skills, so you can quickly check any skill's current status without running a new scan.

Re-scan immediately if:

  • The skill creator announces an update
  • You notice unexpected behavior from the OpenClaw agent
  • A security advisory is published about the skill or its dependencies
  • The skill's Watchtower status changes to "CHANGED"

What If a Skill Fails the Security Scan?

If a scan reveals critical findings, do not install the OpenClaw skill. Here is what to do:

  1. Share the report. Every Security Audit Report has a unique shareable URL. Send it to the skill creator so they can see the specific findings and fix them.
  2. Check alternatives. Browse the ClawSecure registry for similar skills that have earned Verified status (score 80+).
  3. Report it. If the findings include malware indicators (C2 callbacks, credential harvesting, or other ClawHavoc patterns), report the skill to the OpenClaw community on Discord or GitHub.
  4. If already installed: If you already installed a skill and a re-scan shows it is now compromised, remove the skill immediately, rotate any credentials it may have accessed, and check our ecosystem security guide for detailed remediation steps.

It takes 30 seconds to verify an OpenClaw skill and could save you from a compromised machine. Scan your first skill now. Every scan is free, and 2,890+ skills are already audited and searchable in the ClawSecure registry.

📄 Read our flagship security report: 41% of Popular OpenClaw Skills Have Security Vulnerabilities — Findings from 2,890+ Audits

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