openclaw-server-secure-skill

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name: openclaw-server-secure-skill description: Comprehensive security hardening and installation guide for OpenClaw (formerly Clawdbot/Moltbot). Use this skill when the user wants to secure a server, install the OpenClaw agent, or configure Tailscale/Firewall for the agent.

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OpenClaw Server Security & Installation

Overview

This skill guides the setup of a secure, self-hosted OpenClaw instance. It covers SSH hardening, Firewall configuration, Tailscale VPN setup, and the OpenClaw installation itself.

Workflow

Phase 1: System Hardening

1. Lock down SSH - Goal: Keys only, no passwords, no root login. - Action: Modify /etc/ssh/sshd_config. - Commands:

      # Backup config
      sudo cp /etc/ssh/sshd_config /etc/ssh/sshd_config.bak
      # Disable Password Auth
      sudo sed -i 's/^#*PasswordAuthentication .*/PasswordAuthentication no/' /etc/ssh/sshd_config
      # Disable Root Login
      sudo sed -i 's/^#*PermitRootLogin .*/PermitRootLogin no/' /etc/ssh/sshd_config
      # Reload SSH
      sudo sshd -t && sudo systemctl reload ssh
      

2. Default-deny Firewall - Goal: Block everything incoming by default. - Action: Install and enable UFW. - Commands:

      sudo apt update && sudo apt install ufw -y
      sudo ufw default deny incoming
      sudo ufw default allow outgoing
      sudo ufw enable
      

*Note: Ensure you have console access or a fallback before enabling if SSH is not yet allowed on another interface, though we configure Tailscale next.*

3. Brute-force Protection - Goal: Auto-ban IPs after failed login attempts. - Action: Install Fail2ban. - Commands:

      sudo apt install fail2ban -y
      sudo systemctl enable --now fail2ban
      

Phase 2: Network Privacy (Tailscale)

4. Install Tailscale - Goal: Create a private VPN mesh network. - Commands:

      curl -fsSL https://tailscale.com/install.sh | sh
      sudo tailscale up
      

- *Wait for user to authenticate the Tailscale link.*

5. Configure SSH & Web via Tailscale - Goal: Allow traffic only from the Tailscale subnet (100.64.0.0/10) and remove public access. - Commands:

      # Allow SSH over Tailscale
      sudo ufw allow from 100.64.0.0/10 to any port 22 proto tcp
      # Remove public SSH access (Adjust rule name/number as needed)
      sudo ufw delete allow OpenSSH || sudo ufw delete allow 22/tcp
      # Allow Web ports over Tailscale
      sudo ufw allow from 100.64.0.0/10 to any port 443 proto tcp
      sudo ufw allow from 100.64.0.0/10 to any port 80 proto tcp
      

6. Disable IPv6 (Optional) - Goal: Reduce attack surface. - Commands:

      sudo sed -i 's/IPV6=yes/IPV6=no/' /etc/default/ufw
      if ! grep -q "net.ipv6.conf.all.disable_ipv6 = 1" /etc/sysctl.conf; then
        echo "net.ipv6.conf.all.disable_ipv6 = 1" | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf
      fi
      sudo sysctl -p && sudo ufw reload
      

Phase 3: OpenClaw Installation

7. Install OpenClaw - Commands:

      npm install -g openclaw && openclaw doctor
      

8. Configure Owner Access - Required Input: Ask the user for their Telegram ID. - Action: Update the config to allowlist only that ID. - JSON Config Target (verify location via openclaw doctor):

      { 
        "dmPolicy": "allowlist", 
        "allowFrom": ["YOUR_TELEGRAM_ID"], 
        "groupPolicy": "allowlist" 
      }
      

9. Secure Credentials - Goal: Restrict file permissions. - Commands:

      chmod 700 ~/.openclaw/credentials 2>/dev/null || true
      chmod 600 .env 2>/dev/null || true
      

10. Final Audit - Action: Run the built-in security audit. - Command:

      openclaw security audit --deep
      

Verification Status

Run to confirm:

sudo ufw status verbose
ss -tulnp
tailscale status
openclaw doctor