--- name: skillsign version: 1.0.0 description: Sign and verify agent skill folders with ed25519 keys. Detect tampering, manage trusted authors, and track provenance chains (isnād). ---

skillsign

Cryptographic signing and verification for agent skill folders using ed25519 keys. Protects your skills from tampering and lets you verify who wrote them.

Install

pip3 install cryptography

That's the only dependency. The tool is a single Python file.

Commands

Generate a signing identity

python3 skillsign.py keygen
python3 skillsign.py keygen --name myagent

Creates an ed25519 keypair in ~/.skillsign/keys/. Share the .pub file. Keep the .pem file secret.

Sign a skill folder

python3 skillsign.py sign ./my-skill/
python3 skillsign.py sign ./my-skill/ --key ~/.skillsign/keys/myagent.pem

Hashes every file (SHA-256), builds a manifest, signs it with your private key. Creates .skillsig/ inside the folder.

Verify a skill folder

python3 skillsign.py verify ./my-skill/

Detects modified, added, or removed files. Verifies the cryptographic signature. Shows whether the signer is trusted.

Inspect signature metadata

python3 skillsign.py inspect ./my-skill/

Shows signer fingerprint, timestamp, file count, and all covered files with their hashes.

Trust an author

python3 skillsign.py trust ./their-key.pub

Adds a public key to your local trusted authors list.

List trusted authors

python3 skillsign.py trusted

View provenance chain (isnād)

python3 skillsign.py chain ./my-skill/

Shows the full signing history — every author who signed the folder, in order.

When to Use

• After installing a new skill — verify it hasn't been tampered with
• Before running untrusted code — check who signed it and whether you trust them
• Periodically — re-verify your skill folders to detect unauthorized modifications
• When publishing skills — sign your work so others can verify it came from you
• When auditing your agent's integrity — run verify on all your skill folders

Example Workflow

# First time: create your identity
python3 skillsign.py keygen --name parker

# Sign your skills
python3 skillsign.py sign ~/.openclaw/skills/my-skill/

# Later: check nothing changed
python3 skillsign.py verify ~/.openclaw/skills/my-skill/
# ✅ Verified — 14 files intact.
#    Signer: ca3458e92b73e432 [TRUSTED]

# Someone tampers with a file:
python3 skillsign.py verify ~/.openclaw/skills/my-skill/
# ❌ TAMPERED — Files changed since signing:
#    ~ main.py (modified)

# Trust another agent's key
python3 skillsign.py trust ./other-agent.pub

# View full provenance
python3 skillsign.py chain ~/.openclaw/skills/my-skill/
# === Isnād: my-skill/ (2 links) ===
#   [1] ca3458e92b73e432 [TRUSTED]
#       ↓
#   [2] f69159d8a25e8e32 [UNTRUSTED]