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arXiv · 2603.13151

Defensible Design for OpenClaw: Securing Autonomous Tool-Invoking Agents

Zongwei Li·Wenkai Li·Xiaoqi Li
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Abstract

OpenClaw-like agents offer substantial productivity benefits, yet they are insecure by default because they combine untrusted inputs, autonomous action, extensibility, and privileged system access within a single execution loop. We use OpenClaw as an exemplar of a broader class of agents that interact with interfaces, manipulate files, invoke tools, and install extensions in real operating environments. Consequently, their security should be treated as a software engineering problem rather than as a product-specific concern. To address these architectural vulnerabilities, we propose a blueprint for defensible design. We present a risk taxonomy, secure engineering principles, and a practical research agenda to institutionalize safety in agent construction. Our goal is to transition the community focus from isolated vulnerability patching toward systematic defensive engineering and robust deployment practices.

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Zongwei Li, Wenkai Li, Xiaoqi Li. 2026-03-13. Defensible Design for OpenClaw: Securing Autonomous Tool-Invoking Agents. https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.13151

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