approvals

Manage exec approvals (gateway or node host)

SERVEROpenClaw SOURCEopenclaw

Medium RISK CLASS

Category Write

Parameters 00 required

Recommended Rate-limitedsee the rule below

Registry record Grade F, identity verified Pull the record →

This record as markdown: /tools/openclaw/approvals.md

WHAT IT DOES

What approvals does on OpenClaw

AI agents use approvals to create or update resources in OpenClaw, usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your OpenClaw environment.

RISK

Why approvals is rated Medium

Managing approvals typically involves creating, updating, or revoking authorization records. The 'exec approvals' context implies this controls whether execution is permitted on gateway or node hosts, making misuse potentially high-impact. However, 'manage' is ambiguous (could include read/list), so confidence is moderate.

From the tool's definition 'Manage exec approvals (gateway or node host)' — 'manage' implies creating/updating approval records; 'exec approvals' suggests authorization gating for execution

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs approvals safely

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and OpenClaw, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For approvals, this is the rule to start with:

approvals Rate-limited

approvals stays usable, but capped: an agent stuck in a loop can't make hundreds of changes a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "approvals": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "approvals_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

LIMIT THIS TOOL → Instant setup, no code required.

The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect OpenClaw, apply this rule, and every approvals call is checked against it from then on.

FAQ

Questions about approvals

What does the approvals tool do? +

Manage exec approvals (gateway or node host). It is categorised as a Write tool in the OpenClaw MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on approvals? +

Register the OpenClaw MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for approvals: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches OpenClaw. Nothing to install.

What risk level is approvals? +

approvals is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.

Can I rate-limit approvals? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the approvals rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.

How do I block approvals completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for approvals. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.

What MCP server provides approvals? +

approvals is provided by the OpenClaw MCP server (openclaw). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

KEEP EXPLORING

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