openclaw - 💡(How to fix) Fix [Bug]: web_search unavailable in isolated cron sessions despite toolsAllow set and BRAVE_API_KEY present [1 comments, 2 participants]

Bug type

Regression (worked before, now fails)

Beta release blocker

No

Summary

web_search tool reports unavailable when fired from an isolated cron session, despite toolsAllow: ["web_search"] being set on the cron job, BRAVE_API_KEY present in the Docker container environment, and tools.web.search.apiKey set in /config/openclaw.json.

Steps to reproduce

1. Configure a cron job with sessionTarget: isolated and toolsAllow: ["web_search"]
2. Set BRAVE_API_KEY as a Docker environment variable
3. Set tools.web.search.apiKey in persistent config
4. Fire the cron — web_search reports unavailable

Expected behavior

Isolated session uses web_search via the configured key Actual: Session reports web search provider unavailable

Actual behavior

Isolated cron session reports "Web search provider is currently unavailable" on every run, both scheduled and manual. Tool does not execute.

OpenClaw version

2026.5.7 Platform: Ubuntu 24, Docker (Hostinger KVM1 VPS)

Operating system

macOS 11.7.11

Install method

Docker (Hostinger HVPS managed Docker, ghcr.io/hostinger/hvps-openclaw)

Model

openrouter/anthropic/claude-haiku-4.5

Provider / routing chain

BRAVE_API_KEY (Brave Search API) → web_search tool → OpenRouter → Anthropic Claude Haiku 4.5

Additional provider/model setup details

BRAVE_API_KEY set as Docker environment variable. tools.web.search.apiKey set in persistent config at /config/openclaw.json. toolsAllow: ["web_search"] set on cron job via openclaw cron edit. Key confirmed visible inside container via docker exec env.

Logs, screenshots, and evidence

Cron job JSON output showing toolsAllow: ["web_search"] present. Stanley's output each run: "Web search provider is currently unavailable."

Impact and severity

Affects isolated cron sessions on Docker VPS installs. Severity: blocks workflow — scheduled security scan cron cannot retrieve live CVE data. Frequency: always. Consequence: security news scan delivers empty fallback message on every scheduled and manual run.

Additional information

Last known good: approximately 2026.4.21 (web_search worked in isolated sessions). First known bad: 2026.5.7 (current). Hostinger Kodee support confirmed isolated sessions likely run in a separate env scope that doesn't inherit Docker environment variables, but adding the key to persistent config also did not resolve it.