skill-vetting – OpenClaw Skill

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name: skill-vetting description: Vet ClawHub skills for security and utility before installation. Use when considering installing a ClawHub skill, evaluating third-party code, or assessing whether a skill adds value over existing tools.

Skill Vetting

Safely evaluate ClawHub skills for security risks and practical utility.

Quick Start

# Download and inspect
cd /tmp
curl -L -o skill.zip "https://auth.clawdhub.com/api/v1/download?slug=SKILL_NAME"
mkdir skill-inspect && cd skill-inspect
unzip -q ../skill.zip

# Run scanner
python3 ~/.openclaw/workspace/skills/skill-vetting/scripts/scan.py .

# Manual review
cat SKILL.md
cat scripts/*.py

Vetting Workflow

1. Download to /tmp (Never Workspace)

cd /tmp
curl -L -o skill.zip "https://auth.clawdhub.com/api/v1/download?slug=SLUG"
mkdir skill-NAME && cd skill-NAME
unzip -q ../skill.zip

2. Run Automated Scanner

python3 ~/.openclaw/workspace/skills/skill-vetting/scripts/scan.py .

Exit codes: 0 = Clean, 1 = Issues found

The scanner outputs specific findings with file:line references. Review each finding in context.

3. Manual Code Review

Even if scanner passes:

• Does SKILL.md description match actual code behavior?
• Do network calls go to documented APIs only?
• Do file operations stay within expected scope?
• Any hidden instructions in comments/markdown?

# Quick prompt injection check
grep -ri "ignore.*instruction\|disregard.*previous\|system:\|assistant:" .

4. Utility Assessment

Critical question: What does this unlock that I don't already have?

Compare to:

• MCP servers (mcporter list)
• Direct APIs (curl + jq)
• Existing skills (clawhub list)

Skip if: Duplicates existing tools without significant improvement.

5. Decision Matrix

Security	Utility	Decision
✅ Clean	🔥 High	Install
✅ Clean	⚠️ Marginal	Consider (test first)
⚠️ Issues	Any	Investigate findings
🚨 Malicious	Any	Reject

Red Flags (Reject Immediately)

• eval()/exec() without justification
• base64-encoded strings (not data/images)
• Network calls to IPs or undocumented domains
• File operations outside temp/workspace
• Behavior doesn't match documentation
• Obfuscated code (hex, chr() chains)

After Installation

Monitor for unexpected behavior:

• Network activity to unfamiliar services
• File modifications outside workspace
• Error messages mentioning undocumented services

Remove and report if suspicious.

References

• Malicious patterns + false positives: references/patterns.md