The viral adoption of the open-source AI assistant ClawdBot (now Moltbot) has highlighted a critical vulnerability in local-first AI agents: unrestricted system access paired with insecure defaults.
Technical Vulnerabilities
ClawdBot’s primary failure stems from its Gateway API (Port 18789), which allows unauthenticated RCE if bound to public interfaces.
| Service | Default Port | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Gateway API | 18789 | CRITICAL (RCE) |
| Browser Automation | 18791 | CRITICAL |
| Web Dashboard | 3000 | HIGH |
Hardening Checklist
- Network: Bind Gateway API strictly to localhost (127.0.0.1).
- Auth: Configure a strong token (minimum 32 characters).
- Privilege: Disable shell capability (exec) unless absolutely necessary.
- Monitoring: Deploy custom EDR rules (SentinelOne STAR) to monitor for zsh sub-processes spawned by the agent.
- Permissions: Set config directories to chmod 700.
Strategic Summary
AI agents must be treated as privileged access pathways. Organizations should apply strict data classification policies and zero-trust boundaries to any agentic AI deployment to prevent them from becoming the ultimate Shadow IT liability.
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