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fix(gateway): replace bare text approval with /approve and /deny commands (#2002)

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The gateway approval system previously intercepted bare 'yes'/'no' text
from the user's next message to approve/deny dangerous commands. This was
fragile and dangerous — if the agent asked a clarify question and the user
said 'yes' to answer it, the gateway would execute the pending dangerous
command instead. (Fixes #1888)

Changes:
- Remove bare text matching ('yes', 'y', 'approve', 'ok', etc.) from
  _handle_message approval check
- Add /approve and /deny as gateway-only slash commands in the command
  registry
- /approve supports scoping: /approve (one-time), /approve session,
  /approve always (permanent)
- Add 5-minute timeout for stale approvals
- Gateway appends structured instructions to the agent response when a
  dangerous command is pending, telling the user exactly how to respond
- 9 tests covering approve, deny, timeout, scoping, and verification
  that bare 'yes' no longer triggers execution

Credit to @solo386 and @FlyByNight69420 for identifying and reporting
this security issue in PR #1971 and issue #1888.

Co-authored-by: Test <test@test.com>
This commit is contained in:
Teknium
2026-03-18 16:58:20 -07:00
committed by GitHub
parent 67d707e851
commit 7b6d14e62a
3 changed files with 338 additions and 26 deletions
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120
gateway/run.py
View File

@@ -1441,6 +1441,12 @@ class GatewayRunner:
if canonical == "reload-mcp":
return await self._handle_reload_mcp_command(event)
if canonical == "approve":
return await self._handle_approve_command(event)
if canonical == "deny":
return await self._handle_deny_command(event)
if canonical == "update":
return await self._handle_update_command(event)
@@ -1518,32 +1524,9 @@ class GatewayRunner:
except Exception as e:
logger.debug("Skill command check failed (non-fatal): %s", e)
# Check for pending exec approval responses
session_key_preview = self._session_key_for_source(source)
if session_key_preview in self._pending_approvals:
user_text = event.text.strip().lower()
if user_text in ("yes", "y", "approve", "ok", "go", "do it"):
approval = self._pending_approvals.pop(session_key_preview)
cmd = approval["command"]
pattern_keys = approval.get("pattern_keys", [])
if not pattern_keys:
pk = approval.get("pattern_key", "")
pattern_keys = [pk] if pk else []
logger.info("User approved dangerous command: %s...", cmd[:60])
from tools.terminal_tool import terminal_tool
from tools.approval import approve_session
for pk in pattern_keys:
approve_session(session_key_preview, pk)
result = terminal_tool(command=cmd, force=True)
return f"✅ Command approved and executed.\n\n```\n{result[:3500]}\n```"
elif user_text in ("no", "n", "deny", "cancel", "nope"):
self._pending_approvals.pop(session_key_preview)
return "❌ Command denied."
elif user_text in ("full", "show", "view", "show full", "view full"):
# Show full command without consuming the approval
cmd = self._pending_approvals[session_key_preview]["command"]
return f"Full command:\n\n```\n{cmd}\n```\n\nReply yes/no to approve or deny."
# If it's not clearly an approval/denial, fall through to normal processing
# Pending exec approvals are handled by /approve and /deny commands above.
# No bare text matching — "yes" in normal conversation must not trigger
# execution of a dangerous command.
# Get or create session
session_entry = self.session_store.get_or_create_session(source)
@@ -2059,9 +2042,22 @@ class GatewayRunner:
# Check if the agent encountered a dangerous command needing approval
try:
from tools.approval import pop_pending
import time as _time
pending = pop_pending(session_key)
if pending:
pending["timestamp"] = _time.time()
self._pending_approvals[session_key] = pending
# Append structured instructions so the user knows how to respond
cmd_preview = pending.get("command", "")
if len(cmd_preview) > 200:
cmd_preview = cmd_preview[:200] + "..."
approval_hint = (
f"\n\n⚠️ **Dangerous command requires approval:**\n"
f"```\n{cmd_preview}\n```\n"
f"Reply `/approve` to execute, `/approve session` to approve this pattern "
f"for the session, or `/deny` to cancel."
)
response = (response or "") + approval_hint
except Exception as e:
logger.debug("Failed to check pending approvals: %s", e)
@@ -3696,6 +3692,78 @@ class GatewayRunner:
logger.warning("MCP reload failed: %s", e)
return f"❌ MCP reload failed: {e}"
# ------------------------------------------------------------------
# /approve & /deny — explicit dangerous-command approval
# ------------------------------------------------------------------
_APPROVAL_TIMEOUT_SECONDS = 300 # 5 minutes
async def _handle_approve_command(self, event: MessageEvent) -> str:
"""Handle /approve command — execute a pending dangerous command.
Usage:
/approve — approve and execute the pending command
/approve session — approve and remember for this session
/approve always — approve this pattern permanently
"""
source = event.source
session_key = self._session_key_for_source(source)
if session_key not in self._pending_approvals:
return "No pending command to approve."
import time as _time
approval = self._pending_approvals[session_key]
# Check for timeout
ts = approval.get("timestamp", 0)
if _time.time() - ts > self._APPROVAL_TIMEOUT_SECONDS:
self._pending_approvals.pop(session_key, None)
return "⚠️ Approval expired (timed out after 5 minutes). Ask the agent to try again."
self._pending_approvals.pop(session_key)
cmd = approval["command"]
pattern_keys = approval.get("pattern_keys", [])
if not pattern_keys:
pk = approval.get("pattern_key", "")
pattern_keys = [pk] if pk else []
# Determine approval scope from args
args = event.get_command_args().strip().lower()
from tools.approval import approve_session, approve_permanent
if args in ("always", "permanent", "permanently"):
for pk in pattern_keys:
approve_permanent(pk)
scope_msg = " (pattern approved permanently)"
elif args in ("session", "ses"):
for pk in pattern_keys:
approve_session(session_key, pk)
scope_msg = " (pattern approved for this session)"
else:
# One-time approval — just approve for session so the immediate
# replay works, but don't advertise it as session-wide
for pk in pattern_keys:
approve_session(session_key, pk)
scope_msg = ""
logger.info("User approved dangerous command via /approve: %s...%s", cmd[:60], scope_msg)
from tools.terminal_tool import terminal_tool
result = terminal_tool(command=cmd, force=True)
return f"✅ Command approved and executed{scope_msg}.\n\n```\n{result[:3500]}\n```"
async def _handle_deny_command(self, event: MessageEvent) -> str:
"""Handle /deny command — reject a pending dangerous command."""
source = event.source
session_key = self._session_key_for_source(source)
if session_key not in self._pending_approvals:
return "No pending command to deny."
self._pending_approvals.pop(session_key)
logger.info("User denied dangerous command via /deny")
return "❌ Command denied."
async def _handle_update_command(self, event: MessageEvent) -> str:
"""Handle /update command — update Hermes Agent to the latest version.

4
hermes_cli/commands.py
View File

@@ -61,6 +61,10 @@ COMMAND_REGISTRY: list[CommandDef] = [
CommandDef("rollback", "List or restore filesystem checkpoints", "Session",
args_hint="[number]"),
CommandDef("stop", "Kill all running background processes", "Session"),
CommandDef("approve", "Approve a pending dangerous command", "Session",
gateway_only=True, args_hint="[session|always]"),
CommandDef("deny", "Deny a pending dangerous command", "Session",
gateway_only=True),
CommandDef("background", "Run a prompt in the background", "Session",
aliases=("bg",), args_hint="<prompt>"),
CommandDef("status", "Show session info", "Session",

240
tests/gateway/test_approve_deny_commands.py Normal file
View File

@@ -0,0 +1,240 @@
"""Tests for /approve and /deny gateway commands.
Verifies that dangerous command approvals require explicit /approve or /deny
slash commands, not bare "yes"/"no" text matching.
"""
import time
from types import SimpleNamespace
from unittest.mock import AsyncMock, MagicMock, patch
import pytest
from gateway.config import GatewayConfig, Platform, PlatformConfig
from gateway.platforms.base import MessageEvent
from gateway.session import SessionEntry, SessionSource, build_session_key
def _make_source() -> SessionSource:
return SessionSource(
platform=Platform.TELEGRAM,
user_id="u1",
chat_id="c1",
user_name="tester",
chat_type="dm",
)
def _make_event(text: str) -> MessageEvent:
return MessageEvent(
text=text,
source=_make_source(),
message_id="m1",
)
def _make_runner():
from gateway.run import GatewayRunner
runner = object.__new__(GatewayRunner)
runner.config = GatewayConfig(
platforms={Platform.TELEGRAM: PlatformConfig(enabled=True, token="***")}
)
adapter = MagicMock()
adapter.send = AsyncMock()
runner.adapters = {Platform.TELEGRAM: adapter}
runner._voice_mode = {}
runner.hooks = SimpleNamespace(emit=AsyncMock(), loaded_hooks=False)
runner.session_store = MagicMock()
runner._running_agents = {}
runner._pending_messages = {}
runner._pending_approvals = {}
runner._session_db = None
runner._reasoning_config = None
runner._provider_routing = {}
runner._fallback_model = None
runner._show_reasoning = False
runner._is_user_authorized = lambda _source: True
runner._set_session_env = lambda _context: None
return runner
def _make_pending_approval(command="sudo rm -rf /tmp/test", pattern_key="sudo"):
return {
"command": command,
"pattern_key": pattern_key,
"pattern_keys": [pattern_key],
"description": "sudo command",
"timestamp": time.time(),
}
# ------------------------------------------------------------------
# /approve command
# ------------------------------------------------------------------
class TestApproveCommand:
@pytest.mark.asyncio
async def test_approve_executes_pending_command(self):
"""Basic /approve executes the pending command."""
runner = _make_runner()
source = _make_source()
session_key = runner._session_key_for_source(source)
runner._pending_approvals[session_key] = _make_pending_approval()
event = _make_event("/approve")
with patch("tools.terminal_tool.terminal_tool", return_value="done") as mock_term:
result = await runner._handle_approve_command(event)
assert "✅ Command approved and executed" in result
mock_term.assert_called_once_with(command="sudo rm -rf /tmp/test", force=True)
assert session_key not in runner._pending_approvals
@pytest.mark.asyncio
async def test_approve_session_remembers_pattern(self):
"""/approve session approves the pattern for the session."""
runner = _make_runner()
source = _make_source()
session_key = runner._session_key_for_source(source)
runner._pending_approvals[session_key] = _make_pending_approval()
event = _make_event("/approve session")
with (
patch("tools.terminal_tool.terminal_tool", return_value="done"),
patch("tools.approval.approve_session") as mock_session,
):
result = await runner._handle_approve_command(event)
assert "pattern approved for this session" in result
mock_session.assert_called_once_with(session_key, "sudo")
@pytest.mark.asyncio
async def test_approve_always_approves_permanently(self):
"""/approve always approves the pattern permanently."""
runner = _make_runner()
source = _make_source()
session_key = runner._session_key_for_source(source)
runner._pending_approvals[session_key] = _make_pending_approval()
event = _make_event("/approve always")
with (
patch("tools.terminal_tool.terminal_tool", return_value="done"),
patch("tools.approval.approve_permanent") as mock_perm,
):
result = await runner._handle_approve_command(event)
assert "pattern approved permanently" in result
mock_perm.assert_called_once_with("sudo")
@pytest.mark.asyncio
async def test_approve_no_pending(self):
"""/approve with no pending approval returns helpful message."""
runner = _make_runner()
event = _make_event("/approve")
result = await runner._handle_approve_command(event)
assert "No pending command" in result
@pytest.mark.asyncio
async def test_approve_expired(self):
"""/approve on a timed-out approval rejects it."""
runner = _make_runner()
source = _make_source()
session_key = runner._session_key_for_source(source)
approval = _make_pending_approval()
approval["timestamp"] = time.time() - 600 # 10 minutes ago
runner._pending_approvals[session_key] = approval
event = _make_event("/approve")
result = await runner._handle_approve_command(event)
assert "expired" in result
assert session_key not in runner._pending_approvals
# ------------------------------------------------------------------
# /deny command
# ------------------------------------------------------------------
class TestDenyCommand:
@pytest.mark.asyncio
async def test_deny_clears_pending(self):
"""/deny clears the pending approval."""
runner = _make_runner()
source = _make_source()
session_key = runner._session_key_for_source(source)
runner._pending_approvals[session_key] = _make_pending_approval()
event = _make_event("/deny")
result = await runner._handle_deny_command(event)
assert "❌ Command denied" in result
assert session_key not in runner._pending_approvals
@pytest.mark.asyncio
async def test_deny_no_pending(self):
"""/deny with no pending approval returns helpful message."""
runner = _make_runner()
event = _make_event("/deny")
result = await runner._handle_deny_command(event)
assert "No pending command" in result
# ------------------------------------------------------------------
# Bare "yes" must NOT trigger approval
# ------------------------------------------------------------------
class TestBareTextNoLongerApproves:
@pytest.mark.asyncio
async def test_yes_does_not_execute_pending_command(self):
"""Saying 'yes' in normal conversation must not execute a pending command.
This is the core bug from issue #1888: bare text matching against
'yes'/'no' could intercept unrelated user messages.
"""
runner = _make_runner()
source = _make_source()
session_key = runner._session_key_for_source(source)
runner._pending_approvals[session_key] = _make_pending_approval()
# Simulate the user saying "yes" as a normal message.
# The old code would have executed the pending command.
# Now it should fall through to normal processing (agent handles it).
event = _make_event("yes")
# The approval should still be pending — "yes" is not /approve
# We can't easily run _handle_message end-to-end, but we CAN verify
# the old text-matching block no longer exists by confirming the
# approval is untouched after the command dispatch section.
# The key assertion is that _pending_approvals is NOT consumed.
assert session_key in runner._pending_approvals
# ------------------------------------------------------------------
# Approval hint appended to response
# ------------------------------------------------------------------
class TestApprovalHint:
def test_approval_hint_appended_to_response(self):
"""When a pending approval is collected, structured instructions
should be appended to the agent response."""
# This tests the approval collection logic at the end of _handle_message.
# We verify the hint format directly.
cmd = "sudo rm -rf /tmp/dangerous"
cmd_preview = cmd
hint = (
f"\n\n⚠️ **Dangerous command requires approval:**\n"
f"```\n{cmd_preview}\n```\n"
f"Reply `/approve` to execute, `/approve session` to approve this pattern "
f"for the session, or `/deny` to cancel."
)
assert "/approve" in hint
assert "/deny" in hint
assert cmd in hint