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Security audit

exa search

Security checks for vulnerabilities and agentic risk

Overview

This skill appears to be a straightforward cloud search wrapper that sends search requests to Claw0x and does not show hidden or destructive behavior.

Install only if you are comfortable sending your search query, filters, and requested result options to Claw0x's external API and paying per successful call. Do not include secrets, regulated data, or confidential internal research terms in searches unless your organization permits that use.

Vulnerability Patterns
  • Skill Instruction HijackingAlters the agent's session goals or safety constraints when the skill loads
  • Agent Memory PoisoningWrites attacker-controlled rules into memory that affect later sessions
  • Remote Payload Retrieval and ExecutionFetches external code whose behavior can change after review
  • Embedded Malicious CodeShips malicious scripts inside the skill and executes them locally
  • Unauthorized Access and Privilege EscalationObtains permissions beyond the task's legitimate needs
Vulnerability Patterns
  • Data ExfiltrationExternal Transmission, Env Variable Harvesting, File System Enumeration
  • Privilege EscalationExcessive Permissions, Sudo/Root Execution, Credential Access
  • Rogue AgentSelf-Modification, Session Persistence
  • MCP Least PrivilegeUnderdeclared Capability, Wildcard Permission, Missing Permission Declaration
  • Prompt InjectionInstruction Override, Hidden Instructions, Exfiltration Commands
Findings (9)

Credential Access

High
Category
Privilege Escalation
Confidence
60% confidence
Finding

Code accesses credential files (SSH keys, AWS credentials, etc.). This could indicate credential theft attempts.

Content

Scanner excerpt · SKILL.md (reported line 29)May include surrounding context.

  1. Create API key in Dashboard
  2. Set environment variable:
    bash
    # Add to ~/.openclaw/.env
    CLAW0X_API_KEY=ck_live_...
    

Undeclared Tool Scope

Medium
Category
MCP Least Privilege
Confidence
91% confidence
Finding

The skill requires environment access for an API key and performs outbound network requests, but it does not declare an explicit tool/permission scope. This weakens least-privilege controls and prevents users or orchestrators from clearly understanding and constraining what the skill can access.

Content

No source excerpt is available for this finding.

Missing User Warnings

Medium
Category
Not specified by scanner
Confidence
95% confidence
Finding

The skill markets search capabilities but does not clearly warn users that queries and related filters are transmitted to a third-party cloud API. Users may unknowingly send sensitive research terms, company names, or other confidential inputs off-platform.

Content

No source excerpt is available for this finding.

Session Persistence

Medium
Category
Rogue Agent
Confidence
60% confidence
Finding

Skill establishes unauthorized persistence across sessions via cron jobs, startup scripts, or state files. Session persistence allows an attacker to maintain access beyond the current interaction.

Content

Scanner excerpt · SKILL.md (reported line 26)May include surrounding context.

Prerequisites

  1. Sign up at claw0x.com
  2. Create API key in Dashboard
  3. Set environment variable:
    bash
    # Add to ~/.openclaw/.env
    

External Transmission

Medium
Category
Data Exfiltration
Confidence
60% confidence
Finding

Data is being sent to an external URL. This could be legitimate telemetry or data exfiltration. Manual review is recommended.

Content

Scanner excerpt · SKILL.md (reported line 152)May include surrounding context.

Custom Agent

javascript
const response = await fetch('https://api.claw0x.com/v1/call', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'Authorization': `Bearer ${process.env.CLAW0X_API_KEY}`,

External Transmission

Medium
Category
Data Exfiltration
Confidence
50% confidence
Finding

Data is being sent to an external URL. This could be legitimate telemetry or data exfiltration. Manual review is recommended.

Content

Scanner excerpt · SKILL.md (reported line 152)May include surrounding context.

Custom Agent

javascript
const response = await fetch('https://api.claw0x.com/v1/call', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'Authorization': `Bearer ${process.env.CLAW0X_API_KEY}`,

Missing User Warnings

Medium
Category
Not specified by scanner
Confidence
95% confidence
Finding

The skill transmits the user’s search query and all provided options to a third-party service at api.claw0x.com, but the code contains no in-band disclosure, consent check, or minimization of potentially sensitive user input. In an agent skill context, users may assume queries are handled locally or by the primary platform, so silent forwarding to an external provider creates a real data exposure and privacy risk.

Content

No source excerpt is available for this finding.

External Transmission

Medium
Category
Data Exfiltration
Confidence
93% confidence
Finding

This code performs an outbound network request to a third-party endpoint and includes the full user-controlled input object in the request body. Even though external search is the purpose of the skill, unrestricted transmission to an external service is security-relevant because it can leak sensitive prompts, research topics, internal URLs, or other data supplied by the user or agent.

Content

Scanner excerpt · handler.ts (reported line 83)May include surrounding context.

ts
}

  // Call Claw0x Gateway API
  const response = await fetch('https://api.claw0x.com/v1/call', {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: {
      'Authorization': `Bearer ${apiKey}`,

External Transmission

Medium
Category
Data Exfiltration
Confidence
93% confidence
Finding

This code performs an outbound network request to a third-party endpoint and includes the full user-controlled input object in the request body. Even though external search is the purpose of the skill, unrestricted transmission to an external service is security-relevant because it can leak sensitive prompts, research topics, internal URLs, or other data supplied by the user or agent.

Content

Scanner excerpt · handler.ts (reported line 83)May include surrounding context.

ts
}

  // Call Claw0x Gateway API
  const response = await fetch('https://api.claw0x.com/v1/call', {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: {
      'Authorization': `Bearer ${apiKey}`,

Static analysis

Detected: suspicious.env_credential_access

Environment variable access combined with network send.

Critical
Code
suspicious.env_credential_access
Location
handler.ts:12