NanoClaw Enforces Agent Isolation

What happened

NanoClaw, a new AI agent framework, implements a "design for distrust" security model, isolating each agent within its own ephemeral container. Agents run as unprivileged users in Docker or Apple Containers, enforcing OS-level boundaries and preventing access to sensitive host paths via mount allowlists. This architecture contrasts with frameworks like OpenClaw, which typically run agents directly on the host or in shared containers, relying on application-level checks. NanoClaw maintains a minimal, auditable codebase, integrating new functionality through user-reviewed "skills."

Why it matters

Security architects and platform engineers gain a hardened approach to agentic workflow deployment. NanoClaw's per-agent containerisation and OS-level isolation prevent information leakage between agents and limit host access, addressing risks like prompt injection and sandbox escapes. This mechanism reduces the attack surface by enforcing strict boundaries and maintaining a small, auditable codebase, unlike larger monolithic frameworks. Teams should assume agent misbehaviour, prioritising architectural containment over application-level checks.