This record as markdown: /tools/openclaw/secrets.md
What secrets does on OpenClaw
AI agents call secrets to retrieve information from OpenClaw without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
Why secrets is rated Low
The description mentions 'audit' (Read), 'apply' (Write), and 'reload' (Execute/Write) operations on SecretRef-backed credentials. Since the tool spans multiple categories, the most severe applicable is Execute (reload triggers external operations) or Write (apply modifies credentials). However, 'apply' and 'reload' on credentials could be interpreted as Write.
From the tool's definition 'Audit, apply, and reload SecretRef-backed credentials' — the tool manages secrets/credentials with multiple operations
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs secrets 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 secrets, this is the rule to start with:
secrets is read-only, so it stays allowed. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect OpenClaw, apply this rule, and every secrets call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about secrets
Audit, apply, and reload SecretRef-backed credentials. It is categorised as a Read tool in the OpenClaw MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the OpenClaw MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for secrets: 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.
secrets is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the secrets 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.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for secrets. 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.
secrets 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.
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