`@file` / `@folder` context-reference expansion enforced its own narrow
deny-list (`_ensure_reference_path_allowed` in `agent/context_references.py`)
that only covered `~/.ssh` keys, a handful of shell dotfiles, `~/.hermes/.env`,
and `skills/.hub`. It never blocked the credential stores that the canonical
read guard (`agent/file_safety.get_read_block_error`) protects: provider API
keys (`~/.hermes/auth.json`), Anthropic OAuth tokens
(`~/.hermes/.anthropic_oauth.json`), MCP OAuth material (`~/.hermes/mcp-tokens/`),
webhook HMAC secrets, and project-local `.env` files.
This matters because the messaging gateway feeds **untrusted** remote text
straight into reference expansion: `gateway/run.py` calls
`preprocess_context_references_async(..., allowed_root=_msg_cwd)` where
`_msg_cwd` defaults to the operator's HOME when `TERMINAL_CWD` is unset. A chat
peer (Telegram/Discord/Slack/...) could send `@file:~/.hermes/auth.json`, pass
the `allowed_root` check (it resolves under HOME), slip past the narrow list,
and have the operator's live keys read into the agent's context — where the
model would typically echo or act on them.
Rather than duplicate and re-sync a second secret list, this routes the guard
through the existing single source of truth. A reviewer might ask "why not just
add `auth.json` to the local list?" — because the local list has already drifted
once (a prior commit had to add `.config/gh`); anchoring to
`get_read_block_error` means every future addition there protects this path too.
The narrow checks are kept as a fallback since they also cover dirs that guard
does not (`.aws`, `.gnupg`, `.kube`, etc.), and the canonical lookup is wrapped
so it can never crash reference expansion.
N/A
- [x] 🔒 Security fix
- `agent/context_references.py`: `_ensure_reference_path_allowed` now also
consults `agent.file_safety.get_read_block_error` after its existing checks
and refuses the reference when that canonical guard flags the resolved path.
The lookup is wrapped so guard-resolution failures fall back to the explicit
checks instead of breaking expansion.
- `tests/agent/test_context_references.py`: added
`test_blocks_canonical_read_denylist_credential_stores`, asserting that
`@file` attaches for `auth.json`, `.anthropic_oauth.json`, `mcp-tokens/*`, and
a project-local `.env` are all refused and their secret bodies never reach the
expanded message.
- `scripts/release.py`: added the contributor email to `AUTHOR_MAP` (release
gate).
1. `scripts/run_tests.sh tests/agent/test_context_references.py` — all 15 tests
pass, including the new credential-store case.
2. Regression proof: stash `agent/context_references.py`, run the suite with
`-- -k canonical`, and confirm the new test fails (secrets leak into the
message) without the fix; restore and confirm it passes.
3. `ruff check agent/context_references.py tests/agent/test_context_references.py`
and `python scripts/check-windows-footguns.py agent/context_references.py
tests/agent/test_context_references.py` both pass.
- [x] I've read the Contributing Guide
- [x] My commit messages follow Conventional Commits (`fix(scope):`, etc.)
- [x] I searched for existing PRs to make sure this isn't a duplicate
- [x] My PR contains **only** changes related to this fix (plus the AUTHOR_MAP release gate)
- [x] I've run the test suite for the touched area and all tests pass
- [x] I've added tests for my changes (required for bug fixes)
- [x] I've tested on my platform: macOS 15 (Darwin 25.5)
- [x] I've updated relevant documentation (README, `docs/`, docstrings) — or N/A
- [x] I've updated `cli-config.yaml.example` if I added/changed config keys — or N/A
- [x] I've updated `CONTRIBUTING.md` or `AGENTS.md` if I changed architecture or workflows — or N/A
- [x] I've considered cross-platform impact (Windows, macOS) — or N/A
- [x] I've updated tool descriptions/schemas if I changed tool behavior — or N/A
10a54ccc2c