refactor(cli): align macOS permissive Seatbelt profiles with deny-default model (#28424)

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -421,9 +421,9 @@ To debug the CLI's React-based UI, you can use React DevTools.
 
 On macOS, `gemini` uses Seatbelt (`sandbox-exec`) under a `permissive-open`
 profile (see `packages/cli/src/utils/sandbox-macos-permissive-open.sb`) that
-restricts writes to the project folder but otherwise allows all other operations
-and outbound network traffic ("open") by default. You can switch to a
-`strict-open` profile (see
+denies operations by default, confining writes to the project folder while
+allowing broad file reads and outbound network traffic ("open") by default. You
+can switch to a `strict-open` profile (see
 `packages/cli/src/utils/sandbox-macos-strict-open.sb`) that restricts both reads
 and writes to the working directory while allowing outbound network traffic by
 setting `SEATBELT_PROFILE=strict-open` in your environment or `.env` file.

docs/cli/sandbox.md

@@ -87,8 +87,9 @@ preferred container solution.
 
 Lightweight, built-in sandboxing using `sandbox-exec`.
 
-**Default profile**: `permissive-open` - restricts writes outside project
-directory but allows most other operations.
+**Default profile**: `permissive-open` - denies operations by default; confines
+writes to the project directory while allowing broad file reads and network
+access.
 
 Built-in profiles (set via `SEATBELT_PROFILE` env var):
 

docs/reference/configuration.md

@@ -2736,10 +2736,10 @@ the `advanced.excludedEnvVars` setting in your `settings.json` file.
   - Run the CLI once with this set to generate the file.
 - **`SEATBELT_PROFILE`** (macOS specific):
   - Switches the Seatbelt (`sandbox-exec`) profile on macOS.
-  - `permissive-open`: (Default) Restricts writes to the project folder (and a
-    few other folders, see
-    `packages/cli/src/utils/sandbox-macos-permissive-open.sb`) but allows other
-    operations.
+  - `permissive-open`: (Default) Denies operations by default, confining writes
+    to the project folder (and a few other folders, see
+    `packages/cli/src/utils/sandbox-macos-permissive-open.sb`) while allowing
+    broad file reads and network access.
   - `restrictive-open`: Declines operations by default, allows network.
   - `strict-open`: Restricts both reads and writes to the working directory,
     allows network.

packages/cli/src/utils/sandbox-macos-permissive-open.sb

@@ -1,10 +1,74 @@
 (version 1)
 
-;; allow everything by default
-(allow default)
+;; permissive-open: uses (deny default) and explicitly allows the operations the
+;; CLI needs, matching the restrictive-* / strict-* profiles. Keep the allow-list
+;; minimal and reviewed; do not switch to (allow default).
+;;
+;; Keep the non-network rules in sync with sandbox-macos-permissive-proxied.sb:
+;; the two profiles are intentionally identical except for their network rules
+;; ("open" allows broad outbound; "proxied" routes outbound through the proxy).
+(deny default)
 
-;; deny all writes EXCEPT under specific paths
-(deny file-write*)
+;; allow reading files from anywhere on host
+(allow file-read*)
+
+;; allow exec/fork (children inherit this policy, so they stay sandboxed)
+(allow process-exec)
+(allow process-fork)
+
+;; allow signals to self, e.g. SIGPIPE on write to closed pipe
+(allow signal (target self))
+
+;; allow read access to specific information about system
+;; from https://source.chromium.org/chromium/chromium/src/+/main:sandbox/policy/mac/common.sb;l=273-319;drc=7b3962fe2e5fc9e2ee58000dc8fbf3429d84d3bd
+(allow sysctl-read
+    (sysctl-name "hw.activecpu")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.busfrequency_compat")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.byteorder")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.cacheconfig")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.cachelinesize_compat")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.cpufamily")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.cpufrequency_compat")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.cputype")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.l1dcachesize_compat")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.l1icachesize_compat")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.l2cachesize_compat")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.l3cachesize_compat")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.logicalcpu_max")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.machine")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.ncpu")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.nperflevels")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.optional.arm.FEAT_BF16")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.optional.arm.FEAT_DotProd")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.optional.arm.FEAT_FCMA")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.optional.arm.FEAT_FHM")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.optional.arm.FEAT_FP16")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.optional.arm.FEAT_I8MM")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.optional.arm.FEAT_JSCVT")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.optional.arm.FEAT_LSE")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.optional.arm.FEAT_RDM")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.optional.arm.FEAT_SHA512")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.optional.armv8_2_sha512")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.packages")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.pagesize_compat")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.physicalcpu_max")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.tbfrequency_compat")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.vectorunit")
+    (sysctl-name "kern.hostname")
+    (sysctl-name "kern.maxfilesperproc")
+    (sysctl-name "kern.osproductversion")
+    (sysctl-name "kern.osrelease")
+    (sysctl-name "kern.ostype")
+    (sysctl-name "kern.osvariant_status")
+    (sysctl-name "kern.osversion")
+    (sysctl-name "kern.secure_kernel")
+    (sysctl-name "kern.usrstack64")
+    (sysctl-name "kern.version")
+    (sysctl-name "sysctl.proc_cputype")
+    (sysctl-name-prefix "hw.perflevel")
+)
+
+;; allow writes only to specific paths (deny default already blocks the rest)
 (allow file-write*
     (subpath (param "TARGET_DIR"))
     (subpath (param "TMP_DIR"))
@@ -24,3 +88,48 @@
     (literal "/dev/ptmx")
     (regex #"^/dev/ttys[0-9]*$")
 )
+
+;; allow the mach services normal workflows need under deny-default: sysmond for
+;; process listing (pgrep), plus DNS resolution (mDNSResponder), directory
+;; services (opendirectoryd), and certificate validation (trustd/ocspd).
+;; This set mirrors the deny-default profile in
+;; packages/core/src/sandbox/macos/baseProfile.ts (its NETWORK_SEATBELT_PROFILE),
+;; which restrictive-open reaches only implicitly via (allow network-outbound).
+;; Keep this allow-list minimal and reviewed.
+(allow mach-lookup
+    (global-name "com.apple.sysmond")
+    (global-name "com.apple.system.opendirectoryd.libinfo")
+    (global-name "com.apple.system.opendirectoryd.membership")
+    (global-name "com.apple.bsd.dirhelper")
+    (global-name "com.apple.SecurityServer")
+    (global-name "com.apple.networkd")
+    (global-name "com.apple.ocspd")
+    (global-name "com.apple.trustd")
+    (global-name "com.apple.trustd.agent")
+    (global-name "com.apple.mDNSResponder")
+    (global-name "com.apple.mDNSResponderHelper")
+    (global-name "com.apple.SystemConfiguration.DNSConfiguration")
+    (global-name "com.apple.SystemConfiguration.configd")
+)
+
+;; AF_SYSTEM socket used by the network stack (from baseProfile.ts)
+(allow system-socket
+    (require-all
+        (socket-domain AF_SYSTEM)
+        (socket-protocol 2)
+    )
+)
+
+;; enable terminal access required by ink
+;; fixes setRawMode EPERM failure (at node:tty:81:24)
+(allow file-ioctl (regex #"^/dev/tty.*"))
+
+;; allow inbound network traffic (local dev/test servers, the debugger on :9229,
+;; OAuth localhost callbacks)
+(allow network-inbound (local ip "*:*"))
+
+;; allow binding local ports (dev/test servers, OAuth localhost listeners)
+(allow network-bind (local ip "*:*"))
+
+;; allow all outbound network traffic
+(allow network-outbound)

packages/cli/src/utils/sandbox-macos-permissive-proxied.sb

@@ -1,10 +1,76 @@
 (version 1)
 
-;; allow everything by default
-(allow default)
+;; permissive-proxied: uses (deny default) and explicitly allows the operations
+;; the CLI needs, matching the restrictive-* / strict-* profiles. Keep the
+;; allow-list minimal and reviewed; do not switch to (allow default).
+;;
+;; Keep the non-network rules in sync with sandbox-macos-permissive-open.sb:
+;; the two profiles are intentionally identical except for their network rules
+;; ("open" allows broad outbound; "proxied" routes outbound through the proxy).
+(deny default)
 
-;; deny all writes EXCEPT under specific paths
-(deny file-write*)
+;; allow reading files from anywhere on host
+(allow file-read*)
+
+;; allow exec/fork (children inherit this policy, so they stay sandboxed)
+(allow process-exec)
+(allow process-fork)
+
+;; allow signals to self, e.g. SIGPIPE on write to closed pipe
+(allow signal (target self))
+
+;; allow read access to specific information about system
+;; from https://source.chromium.org/chromium/chromium/src/+/main:sandbox/policy/mac/common.sb;l=273-319;drc=7b3962fe2e5fc9e2ee58000dc8fbf3429d84d3bd
+(allow sysctl-read
+    (sysctl-name "hw.activecpu")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.busfrequency_compat")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.byteorder")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.cacheconfig")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.cachelinesize_compat")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.cpufamily")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.cpufrequency_compat")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.cputype")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.l1dcachesize_compat")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.l1icachesize_compat")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.l2cachesize_compat")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.l3cachesize_compat")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.logicalcpu_max")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.machine")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.ncpu")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.nperflevels")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.optional.arm.FEAT_BF16")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.optional.arm.FEAT_DotProd")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.optional.arm.FEAT_FCMA")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.optional.arm.FEAT_FHM")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.optional.arm.FEAT_FP16")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.optional.arm.FEAT_I8MM")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.optional.arm.FEAT_JSCVT")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.optional.arm.FEAT_LSE")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.optional.arm.FEAT_RDM")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.optional.arm.FEAT_SHA512")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.optional.armv8_2_sha512")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.packages")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.pagesize_compat")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.physicalcpu_max")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.tbfrequency_compat")
+    (sysctl-name "hw.vectorunit")
+    (sysctl-name "kern.hostname")
+    (sysctl-name "kern.maxfilesperproc")
+    (sysctl-name "kern.osproductversion")
+    (sysctl-name "kern.osrelease")
+    (sysctl-name "kern.ostype")
+    (sysctl-name "kern.osvariant_status")
+    (sysctl-name "kern.osversion")
+    (sysctl-name "kern.secure_kernel")
+    (sysctl-name "kern.usrstack64")
+    (sysctl-name "kern.version")
+    (sysctl-name "sysctl.proc_cputype")
+    (sysctl-name-prefix "hw.perflevel")
+)
+
+;; allow writes only to specific paths (deny default already blocks the rest).
+;; Mirrors permissive-open, including /dev/ptmx and the /dev/ttys regex needed
+;; for PTY support under deny default.
 (allow file-write*
     (subpath (param "TARGET_DIR"))
     (subpath (param "TMP_DIR"))
@@ -21,16 +87,52 @@
     (literal "/dev/stdout")
     (literal "/dev/stderr")
     (literal "/dev/null")
+    (literal "/dev/ptmx")
+    (regex #"^/dev/ttys[0-9]*$")
 )
 
-;; deny all inbound network traffic EXCEPT on debugger port
-(deny network-inbound)
+;; allow the mach services normal workflows need under deny-default: sysmond for
+;; process listing (pgrep), plus DNS resolution (mDNSResponder), directory
+;; services (opendirectoryd), and certificate validation (trustd/ocspd).
+;; This set mirrors the deny-default profile in
+;; packages/core/src/sandbox/macos/baseProfile.ts (its NETWORK_SEATBELT_PROFILE),
+;; which restrictive-proxied reaches only implicitly via (allow network-outbound).
+;; Keep this allow-list minimal and reviewed.
+(allow mach-lookup
+    (global-name "com.apple.sysmond")
+    (global-name "com.apple.system.opendirectoryd.libinfo")
+    (global-name "com.apple.system.opendirectoryd.membership")
+    (global-name "com.apple.bsd.dirhelper")
+    (global-name "com.apple.SecurityServer")
+    (global-name "com.apple.networkd")
+    (global-name "com.apple.ocspd")
+    (global-name "com.apple.trustd")
+    (global-name "com.apple.trustd.agent")
+    (global-name "com.apple.mDNSResponder")
+    (global-name "com.apple.mDNSResponderHelper")
+    (global-name "com.apple.SystemConfiguration.DNSConfiguration")
+    (global-name "com.apple.SystemConfiguration.configd")
+)
+
+;; AF_SYSTEM socket used by the network stack (from baseProfile.ts)
+(allow system-socket
+    (require-all
+        (socket-domain AF_SYSTEM)
+        (socket-protocol 2)
+    )
+)
+
+;; enable terminal access required by ink
+;; fixes setRawMode EPERM failure (at node:tty:81:24)
+(allow file-ioctl (regex #"^/dev/tty.*"))
+
+;; allow inbound network traffic on debugger port
 (allow network-inbound (local ip "localhost:9229"))
 
+;; allow binding local ports (dev/test servers, OAuth localhost listeners)
+(allow network-bind (local ip "*:*"))
+
 ;; deny all outbound network traffic EXCEPT through proxy on localhost:8877
 ;; set `GEMINI_SANDBOX_PROXY_COMMAND=<command>` to run proxy alongside sandbox
 ;; proxy must listen on :::8877 (see docs/examples/proxy-script.md)
-(deny network-outbound)
 (allow network-outbound (remote tcp "localhost:8877"))
-
-(allow network-bind (local ip "*:*"))

packages/cli/src/utils/sandbox-macos-profiles.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+/**
+ * @license
+ * Copyright 2026 Google LLC
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ */
+
+import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
+import { readFileSync } from 'node:fs';
+import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url';
+import path from 'node:path';
+
+const utilsDir = path.dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url));
+
+/**
+ * Strip SBPL comments (`; ...` to end of line) so assertions run against the
+ * actual sandbox rules rather than any keywords that happen to appear in the
+ * explanatory comments.
+ */
+function readRules(profile: string): string {
+  return readFileSync(path.join(utilsDir, profile), 'utf8')
+    .split('\n')
+    .map((line) => {
+      const commentStart = line.indexOf(';');
+      return commentStart === -1 ? line : line.slice(0, commentStart);
+    })
+    .join('\n');
+}
+
+const PERMISSIVE_PROFILES = [
+  'sandbox-macos-permissive-open.sb',
+  'sandbox-macos-permissive-proxied.sb',
+];
+
+// These two profiles are the default macOS Seatbelt profiles, so the invariants
+// below must never silently regress. Keep them deny-default and confirm the
+// reviewed allow-list stays in place.
+describe('macOS permissive Seatbelt profiles', () => {
+  describe.each(PERMISSIVE_PROFILES)('%s', (profile) => {
+    const rules = readRules(profile);
+
+    it('uses a deny-default foundation', () => {
+      expect(rules).toContain('(deny default)');
+    });
+
+    it('does not use an allow-default foundation', () => {
+      expect(rules).not.toContain('(allow default)');
+    });
+
+    it('does not permit filesystem (un)mounts', () => {
+      expect(rules).not.toMatch(/file-mount/);
+      expect(rules).not.toMatch(/file-unmount/);
+    });
+
+    it('does not grant broad service lookups', () => {
+      expect(rules).not.toMatch(/launchd/);
+      expect(rules).not.toMatch(/launchservices/i);
+    });
+
+    it('allows binding local ports for dev/test servers', () => {
+      expect(rules).toContain('(allow network-bind (local ip "*:*"))');
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('permissive-open keeps broad inbound and outbound network', () => {
+    const rules = readRules('sandbox-macos-permissive-open.sb');
+    expect(rules).toContain('(allow network-inbound (local ip "*:*"))');
+    expect(rules).toMatch(/\(allow network-outbound\)/);
+  });
+
+  it('permissive-proxied confines outbound to the proxy', () => {
+    const rules = readRules('sandbox-macos-permissive-proxied.sb');
+    expect(rules).toContain(
+      '(allow network-outbound (remote tcp "localhost:8877"))',
+    );
+    // Proxied mode must never grant unrestricted outbound network.
+    expect(rules).not.toMatch(/\(allow network-outbound\)/);
+  });
+});