This record as markdown: /tools/openclaw/system.md
What system does on OpenClaw
AI agents call system 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 system is rated Low
The description implies the tool reads or reports on system state (heartbeat, presence, events), which are typical read/monitoring operations. However, 'system events' could involve triggering or subscribing to events (Execute), and the vague description reduces confidence. No financial, destructive, or write indicators are present.
From the tool's definition 'System events, heartbeat, and presence' suggests monitoring/status retrieval rather than triggering actions
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs system 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 system, this is the rule to start with:
system 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 system call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about system
System events, heartbeat, and presence. 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 system: 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.
system 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 system 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 system. 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.
system 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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