Safe Install

Install OpenClaw skills through policy validation, ClawShield scanning, snapshot storage, and rollback controls.

Add a local security review layer in front of skill installation.

When to use

• You want policy-driven review before activating a local skill.
• You need ClawShield scanning and human approval for medium or high risk findings.
• You want rollback-ready snapshots and install history for locally managed skills.

Commands

node {baseDir}/bin/safe-install.js /path/to/skill --config ./policy.json --store ./.openclaw-tools/safe-install
node {baseDir}/bin/safe-install.js /path/to/skill --yes
node {baseDir}/bin/safe-install.js /path/to/skill --force
node {baseDir}/bin/safe-install.js history --format table
node {baseDir}/bin/safe-install.js rollback my-skill
node {baseDir}/bin/safe-install.js policy validate --file ./policy.json

Review flow

1. Source validation: check the candidate against allowedSources.
2. Pattern blocking: reject candidates that match a blocked regular expression.
3. ClawShield scan: scan before install.
4. Risk review:
   • Safe: install directly
   • Caution: require --yes or interactive approval
   • Avoid: require --force
5. Snapshot storage: save a hashed snapshot for rollback.

Policy file

.openclaw-tools/safe-install.json:

{
  "defaultAction": "prompt",
  "blockedPatterns": ["curl\\s*\\|\\s*sh"],
  "allowedSources": ["clawhub.com", "/local/skills"],
  "forceRequiredForAvoid": true
}

• defaultAction: allow/prompt/block
• blockedPatterns: regular expressions that reject installation
• allowedSources: source allowlist
• forceRequiredForAvoid: whether Avoid requires --force

Storage

.openclaw-tools/safe-install/
├── snapshots/{skill}/{version}/{hash}/  # stored snapshots
├── active/{skill}/                       # current active version
├── state.json                           # active state
└── history.json                         # install history

Limits

• Maximum file size: 100MB
• Maximum files per skill: 10,000
• Maximum total skill size: 500MB
• Path traversal protection is enforced

Boundaries

• Safe Install currently resolves local directories or registry aliases defined in policy. It is not a full remote ClawHub client.
• This tool adds a local control layer; it does not replace OpenClaw's native skills install flow.