Previously known as ClawdBot or MoltBot, OpenClaw functions as a persistent assistant that reads local files, logs into email and messaging apps, and interacts with web services. Since it stores memory and configuration details on the device itself, compromising it can expose deeply personal and professional data. As adoption grows across home and workplace environments, saved credentials are becoming attractive targets.
Cybersecurity firm Hudson Rock identified what it believes is the first confirmed case of infostealer malware extracting OpenClaw configuration data. The incident marks a shift in tactics: instead of stealing only browser passwords, attackers are now targeting AI assistant environments that store powerful authentication tokens. According to co-founder and CTO Alon Gal, the infection likely involved a Vidar infostealer variant, with stolen data traced to February 13, 2026.
Researchers say the malware did not specifically target OpenClaw. Instead, it scanned infected systems broadly for files containing keywords like “token” or “private key.” Because OpenClaw stores data in a hidden folder with those identifiers, its files were automatically captured.
Among the compromised files, openclaw.json contained a masked email, workspace path, and a high-entropy gateway authentication token that could enable unauthorized access or API impersonation.
The device.json file stored public and private encryption keys used for pairing and signing, meaning attackers with the private key could mimic the victim’s device and bypass security checks. Additional files such as soul.md, AGENTS.md, and MEMORY.md outlined the agent’s behavior and stored contextual data including logs, messages, and calendar entries. Hudson Rock concluded that the combination of stolen tokens, keys, and memory data could potentially allow near-total digital identity compromise.
Experts expect infostealers to increasingly target AI systems as they become embedded in professional workflows. Separately, Tenable disclosed a critical flaw in Nanobot, an AI assistant inspired by OpenClaw. The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2026-2577, allowed remote hijacking of exposed instances but was patched in version 0.13.post7.
Security professionals warn that as AI tools gain deeper access to personal and corporate systems, protecting configuration files is now as critical as safeguarding passwords. Hidden setup files can carry risks equal to — or greater than — stolen login credentials.
