Contributing to the OpenClaw Threat Model
Thanks for helping make OpenClaw more secure. This threat model is a living document and we welcome contributions from anyone - you don’t need to be a security expert.Ways to Contribute
Add a Threat
Spotted an attack vector or risk we haven’t covered? Open an issue on openclaw/trust and describe it in your own words. You don’t need to know any frameworks or fill in every field - just describe the scenario. Helpful to include (but not required):- The attack scenario and how it could be exploited
- Which parts of OpenClaw are affected (CLI, gateway, channels, ClawHub, MCP servers, etc.)
- How severe you think it is (low / medium / high / critical)
- Any links to related research, CVEs, or real-world examples
This is for adding to the threat model, not reporting live vulnerabilities. If you’ve found an exploitable vulnerability, see our Trust page for responsible disclosure instructions.
Suggest a Mitigation
Have an idea for how to address an existing threat? Open an issue or PR referencing the threat. Useful mitigations are specific and actionable - for example, “per-sender rate limiting of 10 messages/minute at the gateway” is better than “implement rate limiting.”Propose an Attack Chain
Attack chains show how multiple threats combine into a realistic attack scenario. If you see a dangerous combination, describe the steps and how an attacker would chain them together. A short narrative of how the attack unfolds in practice is more valuable than a formal template.Fix or Improve Existing Content
Typos, clarifications, outdated info, better examples - PRs welcome, no issue needed.What We Use
MITRE ATLAS
This threat model is built on MITRE ATLAS (Adversarial Threat Landscape for AI Systems), a framework designed specifically for AI/ML threats like prompt injection, tool misuse, and agent exploitation. You don’t need to know ATLAS to contribute - we map submissions to the framework during review.Threat IDs
Each threat gets an ID likeT-EXEC-003. The categories are:
| Code | Category |
|---|---|
| RECON | Reconnaissance - information gathering |
| ACCESS | Initial access - gaining entry |
| EXEC | Execution - running malicious actions |
| PERSIST | Persistence - maintaining access |
| EVADE | Defense evasion - avoiding detection |
| DISC | Discovery - learning about the environment |
| EXFIL | Exfiltration - stealing data |
| IMPACT | Impact - damage or disruption |
Risk Levels
| Level | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Critical | Full system compromise, or high likelihood + critical impact |
| High | Significant damage likely, or medium likelihood + critical impact |
| Medium | Moderate risk, or low likelihood + high impact |
| Low | Unlikely and limited impact |
Review Process
- Triage - We review new submissions within 48 hours
- Assessment - We verify feasibility, assign ATLAS mapping and threat ID, validate risk level
- Documentation - We ensure everything is formatted and complete
- Merge - Added to the threat model and visualization
Resources
Contact
- Security vulnerabilities: See our Trust page for reporting instructions
- Threat model questions: Open an issue on openclaw/trust
- General chat: Discord #security channel