OpenClaw Credential Security: Protecting API Keys and Secrets

OpenClaw Credential Security: Protecting API Keys and Secrets

Your OpenClaw has your Anthropic key. Your OpenAI key. Maybe Slack tokens, email credentials, database passwords. If those leak, you're in trouble.

This guide covers the credential exposure risks in OpenClaw deployments and how to protect your secrets.

The Credential Exposure Problem

What's at Stake

OpenClaw needs credentials to function:

One leaked key can cost thousands of dollars or expose sensitive data.

Real Incidents

Exposed Dashboards = Exposed Keys

Security researchers scanning the internet found hundreds of exposed OpenClaw instances. Many had API keys visible in the dashboard—Anthropic, OpenAI, Slack, Telegram.

Attackers harvest these keys for:

• Free LLM usage (your bill)
• Access to connected accounts
• Pivot points into your infrastructure

GitHub Leaks

Developers accidentally commit config files with credentials:

# Oops - now in git history forever
git add openclaw.json
git commit -m "config"
git push

Even if you delete the file, the history contains your keys. Bots scan GitHub for leaked credentials within minutes.

How Credentials Get Exposed

1. Configuration Files

Default OpenClaw stores credentials in ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json:

{
  "apiKeys": {
    "anthropic": "sk-ant-api03-...",
    "openai": "sk-..."
  },
  "slack": {
    "token": "xoxb-..."
  }
}

Problems:

• Plaintext on disk
• Readable by any process
• Easy to accidentally copy or share
• Included in backups

2. Environment Variables

Slightly better, but still risky:

export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="sk-ant-..."

Problems:

• Visible in process listings
• Logged in shell history
• Inherited by child processes
• Visible in crash dumps

3. Exposed Admin Dashboards

OpenClaw's web interface often shows credentials. If the interface is exposed:

• Keys visible in settings
• No authentication required (default)
• Searchable by Shodan/Censys

4. Log Files

Credentials can leak into logs:

[2026-01-31 14:22:33] Initializing with API key: sk-ant-api03-abc123...

5. Error Messages

Stack traces and error messages sometimes include sensitive data:

AuthenticationError: Invalid API key: sk-ant-api03-abc123xyz

Self-Hosted Security Measures

If you're self-hosting, here's how to protect credentials:

Use Secret Management Tools

Option 1: HashiCorp Vault

Store secrets in Vault, fetch at runtime:

export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=$(vault kv get -field=key secret/openclaw/anthropic)

Option 2: AWS Secrets Manager

export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=$(aws secretsmanager get-secret-value \
  --secret-id openclaw/anthropic --query SecretString --output text)

Option 3: Docker Secrets

For containerized deployments:

secrets:
  anthropic_key:
    external: true

Filesystem Permissions

Restrict access to config files:

chmod 600 ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json
chown $USER:$USER ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json

Network Isolation

Never expose OpenClaw directly to the internet:

# Bind to localhost only
HOST=127.0.0.1

Use VPN or SSH tunnel for remote access.

Rotate Keys Regularly

• Rotate LLM keys monthly
• Rotate OAuth tokens when staff change
• Use short-lived credentials where possible

Audit Access

Log who accesses config files:

# Enable file access auditing (Linux)
auditctl -w /home/user/.openclaw -p rwa -k openclaw_config

How Clawctl Protects Credentials

Clawctl handles credential security so you don't have to.

Runtime Injection

Credentials are never stored on disk in your tenant. They're:

1. Encrypted at rest — AES-256-GCM encryption
2. Stored in secure vault — Separate from compute
3. Injected at runtime — Only in memory when needed
4. Never logged — Filtered from all logs

Your Dashboard → Encrypted Storage → Runtime Injection → OpenClaw
                     ↑
              Never on disk in tenant

Encrypted Storage

When you add credentials to Clawctl, enter your API key in the dashboard setup wizard. The key is:

• Encrypted before leaving your device
• Transmitted over TLS 1.3
• Stored encrypted in our vault
• Decrypted only in memory at runtime

Access Controls

• Gateway authentication prevents unauthorized dashboard access
• Tenant isolation prevents cross-tenant credential access
• Audit logging tracks all credential operations

No Exposed Dashboards

Your Clawctl dashboard is behind authentication. No anonymous access. No exposed credentials.

What to Do If Keys Are Leaked

Immediate Actions

1. Revoke the key immediately

   • Anthropic: console.anthropic.com → API Keys → Revoke
   • OpenAI: platform.openai.com → API Keys → Delete
   • Generate new keys

2. Check for unauthorized usage

   • Review billing/usage dashboards
   • Look for unusual API calls
   • Check connected account activity

3. Rotate all related credentials

   • If one key leaked, assume others may have too
   • Rotate OAuth tokens, passwords, anything in the same config

Post-Incident

4. Identify the leak source

   • How were keys exposed?
   • Fix the root cause

5. Audit for damage

   • What data might have been accessed?
   • What actions might have been taken?

6. Update procedures

   • Implement proper secret management
   • Consider managed hosting

Credential Security Checklist

Self-Hosted

• Never commit credentials to git
• Use secret management (Vault, AWS SM, etc.)
• Restrict config file permissions (600)
• Bind to localhost only
• Use VPN for remote access
• Rotate keys regularly
• Audit file access
• Monitor for leaked credentials

Managed (Clawctl)

• Encrypted storage (handled)
• Runtime injection (handled)
• No exposed dashboards (handled)
• Audit logging (handled)
• Two-factor authentication (available)
• Use strong account password
• Enable 2FA on your Clawctl account (strongly recommended)
• Rotate keys periodically (good practice)

Why 2FA matters for credentials: Even with encrypted storage, if an attacker steals your password and logs into your dashboard, they can add new credentials or modify your agent's behavior. 2FA ensures that dashboard access requires both your password and your phone—protecting your credentials even if your password leaks. Learn more about 2FA →

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does OpenClaw store credentials?

By default, in ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json in plaintext. This is a security risk. Use secret management tools or managed hosting.

How does Clawctl store my API keys?

Clawctl encrypts credentials with AES-256-GCM and stores them in a separate vault. Keys are injected at runtime and never written to disk in your tenant.

Can Clawctl staff see my API keys?

No. Keys are encrypted with keys we don't have access to. We cannot decrypt your credentials.

What if I accidentally committed keys to git?

Revoke the keys immediately. They're compromised. Generate new keys and use proper secret management going forward. You cannot reliably remove secrets from git history.

How often should I rotate API keys?

Monthly for LLM keys, immediately when staff with access leave, and whenever you suspect exposure.

Summary

Deploy with secure credential handling → | Security risks overview → | All security threats →