Files
hermes-agent/tests/tools/test_file_read_guards.py
Teknium e3f8347be3 feat(file_tools): harden read_file with size guard, dedup, and device blocking (#4315)
* feat(file_tools): harden read_file with size guard, dedup, and device blocking

Three improvements to read_file_tool to reduce wasted context tokens and
prevent process hangs:

1. Character-count guard: reads that produce more than 100K characters
   (≈25-35K tokens across tokenisers) are rejected with an error that
   tells the model to use offset+limit for a smaller range.  The
   effective cap is min(file_size, 100K) so small files that happen to
   have long lines aren't over-penalised.  Large truncated files also
   get a hint nudging toward targeted reads.

2. File-read deduplication: when the same (path, offset, limit) is read
   a second time and the file hasn't been modified (mtime unchanged),
   return a lightweight stub instead of re-sending the full content.
   Writes and patches naturally change mtime, so post-edit reads always
   return fresh content.  The dedup cache is cleared on context
   compression — after compression the original read content is
   summarised away, so the model needs the full content again.

3. Device path blocking: paths like /dev/zero, /dev/random, /dev/stdin
   etc. are rejected before any I/O to prevent process hangs from
   infinite-output or blocking-input devices.

Tests: 17 new tests covering all three features plus the dedup-reset-
on-compression integration.  All 52 file-read tests pass (35 existing +
17 new).  Full tool suite (2124 tests) passes with 0 failures.

* feat: make file_read_max_chars configurable, add docs

Add file_read_max_chars to DEFAULT_CONFIG (default 100K).  read_file_tool
reads this on first call and caches for the process lifetime.  Users on
large-context models can raise it; users on small local models can lower it.

Also adds a 'File Read Safety' section to the configuration docs
explaining the char limit, dedup behavior, and example values.
2026-03-31 12:53:19 -07:00

379 lines
15 KiB
Python

#!/usr/bin/env python3
"""
Tests for read_file_tool safety guards: device-path blocking,
character-count limits, file deduplication, and dedup reset on
context compression.
Run with: python -m pytest tests/tools/test_file_read_guards.py -v
"""
import json
import os
import tempfile
import time
import unittest
from unittest.mock import patch, MagicMock
from tools.file_tools import (
read_file_tool,
clear_read_tracker,
reset_file_dedup,
_is_blocked_device,
_get_max_read_chars,
_DEFAULT_MAX_READ_CHARS,
)
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Helpers
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
class _FakeReadResult:
"""Minimal stand-in for FileOperations.read_file return value."""
def __init__(self, content="line1\nline2\n", total_lines=2, file_size=100):
self.content = content
self._total_lines = total_lines
self._file_size = file_size
def to_dict(self):
return {
"content": self.content,
"total_lines": self._total_lines,
"file_size": self._file_size,
}
def _make_fake_ops(content="hello\n", total_lines=1, file_size=6):
fake = MagicMock()
fake.read_file = lambda path, offset=1, limit=500: _FakeReadResult(
content=content, total_lines=total_lines, file_size=file_size,
)
return fake
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Device path blocking
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
class TestDevicePathBlocking(unittest.TestCase):
"""Paths like /dev/zero should be rejected before any I/O."""
def test_blocked_device_detection(self):
for dev in ("/dev/zero", "/dev/random", "/dev/urandom", "/dev/stdin",
"/dev/tty", "/dev/console", "/dev/stdout", "/dev/stderr",
"/dev/fd/0", "/dev/fd/1", "/dev/fd/2"):
self.assertTrue(_is_blocked_device(dev), f"{dev} should be blocked")
def test_safe_device_not_blocked(self):
self.assertFalse(_is_blocked_device("/dev/null"))
self.assertFalse(_is_blocked_device("/dev/sda1"))
def test_proc_fd_blocked(self):
self.assertTrue(_is_blocked_device("/proc/self/fd/0"))
self.assertTrue(_is_blocked_device("/proc/12345/fd/2"))
def test_proc_fd_other_not_blocked(self):
self.assertFalse(_is_blocked_device("/proc/self/fd/3"))
self.assertFalse(_is_blocked_device("/proc/self/maps"))
def test_normal_files_not_blocked(self):
self.assertFalse(_is_blocked_device("/tmp/test.py"))
self.assertFalse(_is_blocked_device("/home/user/.bashrc"))
def test_read_file_tool_rejects_device(self):
"""read_file_tool returns an error without any file I/O."""
result = json.loads(read_file_tool("/dev/zero", task_id="dev_test"))
self.assertIn("error", result)
self.assertIn("device file", result["error"])
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Character-count limits
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
class TestCharacterCountGuard(unittest.TestCase):
"""Large reads should be rejected with guidance to use offset/limit."""
def setUp(self):
clear_read_tracker()
def tearDown(self):
clear_read_tracker()
@patch("tools.file_tools._get_file_ops")
@patch("tools.file_tools._get_max_read_chars", return_value=_DEFAULT_MAX_READ_CHARS)
def test_oversized_read_rejected(self, _mock_limit, mock_ops):
"""A read that returns >max chars is rejected."""
big_content = "x" * (_DEFAULT_MAX_READ_CHARS + 1)
mock_ops.return_value = _make_fake_ops(
content=big_content,
total_lines=5000,
file_size=len(big_content) + 100, # bigger than content
)
result = json.loads(read_file_tool("/tmp/huge.txt", task_id="big"))
self.assertIn("error", result)
self.assertIn("safety limit", result["error"])
self.assertIn("offset and limit", result["error"])
self.assertIn("total_lines", result)
@patch("tools.file_tools._get_file_ops")
def test_small_read_not_rejected(self, mock_ops):
"""Normal-sized reads pass through fine."""
mock_ops.return_value = _make_fake_ops(content="short\n", file_size=6)
result = json.loads(read_file_tool("/tmp/small.txt", task_id="small"))
self.assertNotIn("error", result)
self.assertIn("content", result)
@patch("tools.file_tools._get_file_ops")
@patch("tools.file_tools._get_max_read_chars", return_value=_DEFAULT_MAX_READ_CHARS)
def test_content_under_limit_passes(self, _mock_limit, mock_ops):
"""Content just under the limit should pass through fine."""
mock_ops.return_value = _make_fake_ops(
content="y" * (_DEFAULT_MAX_READ_CHARS - 1),
file_size=_DEFAULT_MAX_READ_CHARS - 1,
)
result = json.loads(read_file_tool("/tmp/justunder.txt", task_id="under"))
self.assertNotIn("error", result)
self.assertIn("content", result)
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# File deduplication
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
class TestFileDedup(unittest.TestCase):
"""Re-reading an unchanged file should return a lightweight stub."""
def setUp(self):
clear_read_tracker()
self._tmpdir = tempfile.mkdtemp()
self._tmpfile = os.path.join(self._tmpdir, "dedup_test.txt")
with open(self._tmpfile, "w") as f:
f.write("line one\nline two\n")
def tearDown(self):
clear_read_tracker()
try:
os.unlink(self._tmpfile)
os.rmdir(self._tmpdir)
except OSError:
pass
@patch("tools.file_tools._get_file_ops")
def test_second_read_returns_dedup_stub(self, mock_ops):
"""Second read of same file+range returns dedup stub."""
mock_ops.return_value = _make_fake_ops(
content="line one\nline two\n", file_size=20,
)
# First read — full content
r1 = json.loads(read_file_tool(self._tmpfile, task_id="dup"))
self.assertNotIn("dedup", r1)
# Second read — should get dedup stub
r2 = json.loads(read_file_tool(self._tmpfile, task_id="dup"))
self.assertTrue(r2.get("dedup"), "Second read should return dedup stub")
self.assertIn("unchanged", r2.get("content", ""))
@patch("tools.file_tools._get_file_ops")
def test_modified_file_not_deduped(self, mock_ops):
"""After the file is modified, dedup returns full content."""
mock_ops.return_value = _make_fake_ops(
content="line one\nline two\n", file_size=20,
)
read_file_tool(self._tmpfile, task_id="mod")
# Modify the file — ensure mtime changes
time.sleep(0.05)
with open(self._tmpfile, "w") as f:
f.write("changed content\n")
r2 = json.loads(read_file_tool(self._tmpfile, task_id="mod"))
self.assertNotEqual(r2.get("dedup"), True, "Modified file should not dedup")
@patch("tools.file_tools._get_file_ops")
def test_different_range_not_deduped(self, mock_ops):
"""Same file but different offset/limit should not dedup."""
mock_ops.return_value = _make_fake_ops(
content="line one\nline two\n", file_size=20,
)
read_file_tool(self._tmpfile, offset=1, limit=500, task_id="rng")
r2 = json.loads(read_file_tool(
self._tmpfile, offset=10, limit=500, task_id="rng",
))
self.assertNotEqual(r2.get("dedup"), True)
@patch("tools.file_tools._get_file_ops")
def test_different_task_not_deduped(self, mock_ops):
"""Different task_ids have separate dedup caches."""
mock_ops.return_value = _make_fake_ops(
content="line one\nline two\n", file_size=20,
)
read_file_tool(self._tmpfile, task_id="task_a")
r2 = json.loads(read_file_tool(self._tmpfile, task_id="task_b"))
self.assertNotEqual(r2.get("dedup"), True)
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Dedup reset on compression
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
class TestDedupResetOnCompression(unittest.TestCase):
"""reset_file_dedup should clear the dedup cache so post-compression
reads return full content."""
def setUp(self):
clear_read_tracker()
self._tmpdir = tempfile.mkdtemp()
self._tmpfile = os.path.join(self._tmpdir, "compress_test.txt")
with open(self._tmpfile, "w") as f:
f.write("original content\n")
def tearDown(self):
clear_read_tracker()
try:
os.unlink(self._tmpfile)
os.rmdir(self._tmpdir)
except OSError:
pass
@patch("tools.file_tools._get_file_ops")
def test_reset_clears_dedup(self, mock_ops):
"""After reset_file_dedup, the same read returns full content."""
mock_ops.return_value = _make_fake_ops(
content="original content\n", file_size=18,
)
# First read — populates dedup cache
read_file_tool(self._tmpfile, task_id="comp")
# Verify dedup works before reset
r_dedup = json.loads(read_file_tool(self._tmpfile, task_id="comp"))
self.assertTrue(r_dedup.get("dedup"), "Should dedup before reset")
# Simulate compression
reset_file_dedup("comp")
# Read again — should get full content
r_post = json.loads(read_file_tool(self._tmpfile, task_id="comp"))
self.assertNotEqual(r_post.get("dedup"), True,
"Post-compression read should return full content")
@patch("tools.file_tools._get_file_ops")
def test_reset_all_tasks(self, mock_ops):
"""reset_file_dedup(None) clears all tasks."""
mock_ops.return_value = _make_fake_ops(
content="original content\n", file_size=18,
)
read_file_tool(self._tmpfile, task_id="t1")
read_file_tool(self._tmpfile, task_id="t2")
reset_file_dedup() # no task_id — clear all
r1 = json.loads(read_file_tool(self._tmpfile, task_id="t1"))
r2 = json.loads(read_file_tool(self._tmpfile, task_id="t2"))
self.assertNotEqual(r1.get("dedup"), True)
self.assertNotEqual(r2.get("dedup"), True)
@patch("tools.file_tools._get_file_ops")
def test_reset_preserves_loop_detection(self, mock_ops):
"""reset_file_dedup does NOT affect the consecutive-read counter."""
mock_ops.return_value = _make_fake_ops(
content="original content\n", file_size=18,
)
# Build up consecutive count (read 1 and 2)
read_file_tool(self._tmpfile, task_id="loop")
# 2nd read is deduped — doesn't increment consecutive counter
read_file_tool(self._tmpfile, task_id="loop")
reset_file_dedup("loop")
# 3rd read — counter should still be at 2 from before reset
# (dedup was hit for read 2, but consecutive counter was 1 for that)
# After reset, this read goes through full path, incrementing to 2
r3 = json.loads(read_file_tool(self._tmpfile, task_id="loop"))
# Should NOT be blocked or warned — counter restarted since dedup
# intercepted reads before they reached the counter
self.assertNotIn("error", r3)
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Large-file hint
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
class TestLargeFileHint(unittest.TestCase):
"""Large truncated files should include a hint about targeted reads."""
def setUp(self):
clear_read_tracker()
def tearDown(self):
clear_read_tracker()
@patch("tools.file_tools._get_file_ops")
def test_large_truncated_file_gets_hint(self, mock_ops):
content = "line\n" * 400 # 2000 chars, small enough to pass char guard
fake = _make_fake_ops(content=content, total_lines=10000, file_size=600_000)
# Make to_dict return truncated=True
orig_read = fake.read_file
def patched_read(path, offset=1, limit=500):
r = orig_read(path, offset, limit)
orig_to_dict = r.to_dict
def new_to_dict():
d = orig_to_dict()
d["truncated"] = True
return d
r.to_dict = new_to_dict
return r
fake.read_file = patched_read
mock_ops.return_value = fake
result = json.loads(read_file_tool("/tmp/bigfile.log", task_id="hint"))
self.assertIn("_hint", result)
self.assertIn("section you need", result["_hint"])
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Config override
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
class TestConfigOverride(unittest.TestCase):
"""file_read_max_chars in config.yaml should control the char guard."""
def setUp(self):
clear_read_tracker()
# Reset the cached value so each test gets a fresh lookup
import tools.file_tools as _ft
_ft._max_read_chars_cached = None
def tearDown(self):
clear_read_tracker()
import tools.file_tools as _ft
_ft._max_read_chars_cached = None
@patch("tools.file_tools._get_file_ops")
@patch("hermes_cli.config.load_config", return_value={"file_read_max_chars": 50})
def test_custom_config_lowers_limit(self, _mock_cfg, mock_ops):
"""A config value of 50 should reject reads over 50 chars."""
mock_ops.return_value = _make_fake_ops(content="x" * 60, file_size=60)
result = json.loads(read_file_tool("/tmp/cfgtest.txt", task_id="cfg1"))
self.assertIn("error", result)
self.assertIn("safety limit", result["error"])
self.assertIn("50", result["error"]) # should show the configured limit
@patch("tools.file_tools._get_file_ops")
@patch("hermes_cli.config.load_config", return_value={"file_read_max_chars": 500_000})
def test_custom_config_raises_limit(self, _mock_cfg, mock_ops):
"""A config value of 500K should allow reads up to 500K chars."""
# 200K chars would be rejected at the default 100K but passes at 500K
mock_ops.return_value = _make_fake_ops(
content="y" * 200_000, file_size=200_000,
)
result = json.loads(read_file_tool("/tmp/cfgtest2.txt", task_id="cfg2"))
self.assertNotIn("error", result)
self.assertIn("content", result)
if __name__ == "__main__":
unittest.main()