OpenClaw Sentinel

Supply chain security scanner for agent skills. Detects obfuscated code, known-bad signatures, suspicious install behaviors, dependency confusion, and metadata inconsistencies — before and after installation.

The Problem

You install skills from the community. Any skill can contain obfuscated payloads, post-install hooks that execute arbitrary code, or supply chain attacks that modify other skills in your workspace. Existing tools verify file integrity after the fact — nothing inspects skills for supply chain risks before they run.

Commands

Scan Installed Skills

Deep scan of all installed skills for supply chain risks. Checks file hashes against a local threat database, detects obfuscated code patterns, suspicious install behaviors, dependency confusion, and metadata inconsistencies. Generates a risk score (0-100) per skill.

python3 {baseDir}/scripts/sentinel.py scan --workspace /path/to/workspace

Scan a Single Skill

python3 {baseDir}/scripts/sentinel.py scan openclaw-warden --workspace /path/to/workspace

Pre-Install Inspection

Scan a skill directory BEFORE copying it to your workspace. Outputs a SAFE/REVIEW/REJECT recommendation and shows exactly what binaries, network calls, and file operations the skill will perform.

python3 {baseDir}/scripts/sentinel.py inspect /path/to/skill-directory

Manage Threat Database

View current threat database statistics.

python3 {baseDir}/scripts/sentinel.py threats --workspace /path/to/workspace

Import a community-shared threat list.

python3 {baseDir}/scripts/sentinel.py threats --update-from threats.json --workspace /path/to/workspace

Quick Status

Summary of installed skills, scan history, and risk score overview.

python3 {baseDir}/scripts/sentinel.py status --workspace /path/to/workspace

Workspace Auto-Detection

If --workspace is omitted, the script tries:

1. OPENCLAW_WORKSPACE environment variable
2. Current directory (if AGENTS.md exists)
3. ~/.openclaw/workspace (default)

What It Detects

| Category | Patterns |

|----------|----------|

| Encoded Execution | eval(base64.b64decode(...)), exec(compile(...)), eval/exec with encoded strings |

| Dynamic Imports | \_\_import\_\_('os').system(...), dynamic subprocess/ctypes imports |

| Shell Injection | subprocess.Popen with shell=True + string concatenation, os.system() |

| Remote Code Exec | urllib/requests combined with exec/eval — download-and-run patterns |

| Obfuscation | Lines >1000 chars, high-entropy strings, minified code blocks |

| Install Behaviors | Post-install hooks, auto-exec in \_\_init\_\_.py, cross-skill file writes |

| Hidden Files | Non-standard dotfiles and hidden directories |

| Dependency Confusion | Skills shadowing popular package names, typosquatting near-matches |

| Metadata Mismatch | Undeclared binaries, undeclared env vars, invocable flag inconsistencies |

| Serialization | pickle.loads, marshal.loads — arbitrary code execution via deserialization |

| Known-Bad Hashes | File SHA-256 matches against local threat database |

Risk Scoring

Each skill receives a score from 0-100:

| Score | Label | Meaning |

|-------|-------|---------|

| 0 | CLEAN | No issues detected |

| 1-19 | LOW | Minor findings, likely benign |

| 20-49 | MODERATE | Review recommended |

| 50-74 | HIGH | Significant risk, review required |

| 75-100 | CRITICAL | Serious supply chain risk |

Threat Database Format

Community-shared threat lists use this JSON format:

{
  "hashes": {
    "<sha256hex>": {"name": "...", "severity": "...", "description": "..."}
  },
  "patterns": [
    {"name": "...", "regex": "...", "severity": "..."}
  ]
}

Exit Codes

• 0 — Clean, no issues
• 1 — Review needed
• 2 — Threats detected

No External Dependencies

Python standard library only. No pip install. No network calls. Everything runs locally.

Cross-Platform

Works with OpenClaw, Claude Code, Cursor, and any tool using the Agent Skills specification.