feat(cli): secure .env loading and enforce workspace trust in headless mode (#25814)

Co-authored-by: galz10 <galzahavi@google.com>
Co-authored-by: davidapierce <davidapierce@google.com>

packages/cli/src/config/config.ts

@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import {
   FileDiscoveryService,
   resolveTelemetrySettings,
   FatalConfigError,
+  getErrorMessage,
   getPty,
   debugLogger,
   loadServerHierarchicalMemory,
@@ -60,6 +61,7 @@ import {
 
 import { loadSandboxConfig } from './sandboxConfig.js';
 import { resolvePath } from '../utils/resolvePath.js';
+import { isRecord } from '../utils/settingsUtils.js';
 import { RESUME_LATEST } from '../utils/sessionUtils.js';
 
 import { isWorkspaceTrusted } from './trustedFolders.js';
@@ -106,6 +108,7 @@ export interface CliArgs {
   startupMessages?: string[];
   rawOutput: boolean | undefined;
   acceptRawOutputRisk: boolean | undefined;
+  skipTrust: boolean | undefined;
   isCommand: boolean | undefined;
 }
 
@@ -291,6 +294,11 @@ export async function parseArguments(
           description:
             'Execute the provided prompt and continue in interactive mode',
         })
+        .option('skip-trust', {
+          type: 'boolean',
+          description: 'Trust the current workspace for this session.',
+          default: false,
+        })
         .option('worktree', {
           alias: 'w',
           type: 'string',
@@ -459,9 +467,16 @@ export async function parseArguments(
   yargsInstance.wrap(yargsInstance.terminalWidth());
   let result;
   try {
-    result = await yargsInstance.parse();
+    const parsed = await yargsInstance.parse();
+    if (!isRecord(parsed)) {
+      throw new Error('Failed to parse arguments');
+    }
+    result = parsed;
+    if (result['skip-trust']) {
+      process.env['GEMINI_CLI_TRUST_WORKSPACE'] = 'true';
+    }
   } catch (e) {
-    const msg = e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e);
+    const msg = getErrorMessage(e);
     debugLogger.error(msg);
     yargsInstance.showHelp();
     await runExitCleanup();
@@ -475,11 +490,13 @@ export async function parseArguments(
   }
 
   // Normalize query args: handle both quoted "@path file" and unquoted @path file
-  // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-unsafe-type-assertion
-  const queryArg = (result as { query?: string | string[] | undefined }).query;
-  const q: string | undefined = Array.isArray(queryArg)
-    ? queryArg.join(' ')
-    : queryArg;
+  const queryArg = result['query'];
+  let q: string | undefined;
+  if (Array.isArray(queryArg)) {
+    q = queryArg.join(' ');
+  } else if (typeof queryArg === 'string') {
+    q = queryArg;
+  }
 
   // -p/--prompt forces non-interactive mode; positional args default to interactive in TTY
   if (q && !result['prompt']) {
@@ -494,8 +511,8 @@ export async function parseArguments(
   }
 
   // Keep CliArgs.query as a string for downstream typing
-  (result as Record<string, unknown>)['query'] = q || undefined;
-  (result as Record<string, unknown>)['startupMessages'] = startupMessages;
+  result['query'] = q || undefined;
+  result['startupMessages'] = startupMessages;
 
   // The import format is now only controlled by settings.memoryImportFormat
   // We no longer accept it as a CLI argument
@@ -547,7 +564,7 @@ export async function loadCliConfig(
       ? false
       : (settings.security?.folderTrust?.enabled ?? false);
   const trustedFolder =
-    isWorkspaceTrusted(settings, cwd, undefined, {
+    isWorkspaceTrusted(settings, cwd, {
       prompt: argv.prompt,
       query: argv.query,
     })?.isTrusted ?? false;
@@ -593,7 +610,7 @@ export async function loadCliConfig(
         return resolveToRealPath(trimmedPath) !== realCwd;
       } catch (e) {
         debugLogger.debug(
-          `[IDE] Skipping inaccessible workspace folder: ${trimmedPath} (${e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e)})`,
+          `[IDE] Skipping inaccessible workspace folder: ${trimmedPath} (${getErrorMessage(e)})`,
         );
         return false;
       }
@@ -1099,7 +1116,7 @@ async function resolveWorktreeSettings(
     worktreeBaseSha = stdout.trim();
   } catch (e: unknown) {
     debugLogger.debug(
-      `Failed to resolve worktree base SHA at ${worktreePath}: ${e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e)}`,
+      `Failed to resolve worktree base SHA at ${worktreePath}: ${getErrorMessage(e)}`,
     );
   }
 

packages/cli/src/config/extension.test.ts

@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import {
   loadAgentsFromDirectory,
   loadSkillsFromDir,
   getRealPath,
+  normalizePath,
 } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
 import {
   loadSettings,
@@ -1420,6 +1421,7 @@ name = "yolo-checker"
         '.gemini',
         'trustedFolders.json',
       );
+      vi.stubEnv('GEMINI_CLI_TRUSTED_FOLDERS_PATH', trustedFoldersPath);
       vi.mocked(isWorkspaceTrusted).mockReturnValue({
         isTrusted: false,
         source: undefined,
@@ -1438,7 +1440,9 @@ name = "yolo-checker"
       const trustedFolders = JSON.parse(
         fs.readFileSync(trustedFoldersPath, 'utf-8'),
       );
-      expect(trustedFolders[tempWorkspaceDir]).toBe('TRUST_FOLDER');
+      expect(trustedFolders[normalizePath(tempWorkspaceDir)]).toBe(
+        'TRUST_FOLDER',
+      );
     });
 
     describe.each([true, false])(

packages/cli/src/config/settings.test.ts

@@ -1912,6 +1912,9 @@ describe('Settings Loading and Merging', () => {
       const geminiEnvPath = path.resolve(
         path.join(MOCK_WORKSPACE_DIR, GEMINI_DIR, '.env'),
       );
+      const workspaceEnvPath = path.resolve(
+        path.join(MOCK_WORKSPACE_DIR, '.env'),
+      );
 
       vi.spyOn(trustedFolders, 'isWorkspaceTrusted').mockReturnValue({
         isTrusted: isWorkspaceTrustedValue,
@@ -1919,9 +1922,11 @@ describe('Settings Loading and Merging', () => {
       });
       (mockFsExistsSync as Mock).mockImplementation((p: fs.PathLike) => {
         const normalizedP = path.resolve(p.toString());
-        return [path.resolve(USER_SETTINGS_PATH), geminiEnvPath].includes(
-          normalizedP,
-        );
+        return [
+          path.resolve(USER_SETTINGS_PATH),
+          geminiEnvPath,
+          workspaceEnvPath,
+        ].includes(normalizedP);
       });
       const userSettingsContent: Settings = {
         ui: {
@@ -1941,7 +1946,7 @@ describe('Settings Loading and Merging', () => {
           const normalizedP = path.resolve(p.toString());
           if (normalizedP === path.resolve(USER_SETTINGS_PATH))
             return JSON.stringify(userSettingsContent);
-          if (normalizedP === geminiEnvPath)
+          if (normalizedP === geminiEnvPath || normalizedP === workspaceEnvPath)
             return 'TESTTEST=1234\nGEMINI_API_KEY=test-key';
           return '{}';
         },
@@ -1970,7 +1975,7 @@ describe('Settings Loading and Merging', () => {
       expect(process.env['TESTTEST']).not.toEqual('1234');
     });
 
-    it('does load env files from untrusted spaces when NOT sandboxed', () => {
+    it('does NOT load non-whitelisted env files from untrusted spaces even when NOT sandboxed', () => {
       setup({ isFolderTrustEnabled: true, isWorkspaceTrustedValue: false });
       const settings = {
         security: { folderTrust: { enabled: true } },
@@ -1978,7 +1983,8 @@ describe('Settings Loading and Merging', () => {
       } as Settings;
       loadEnvironment(settings, MOCK_WORKSPACE_DIR, isWorkspaceTrusted);
 
-      expect(process.env['TESTTEST']).toEqual('1234');
+      expect(process.env['TESTTEST']).not.toEqual('1234');
+      expect(process.env['GEMINI_API_KEY']).toEqual('test-key');
     });
 
     it('does not load env files when trust is undefined and sandboxed', () => {

packages/cli/src/config/settings.ts

@@ -499,13 +499,15 @@ export class LoadedSettings {
   }
 }
 
-function findEnvFile(startDir: string): string | null {
+function findEnvFile(startDir: string, isTrusted: boolean): string | null {
   let currentDir = path.resolve(startDir);
   while (true) {
     // prefer gemini-specific .env under GEMINI_DIR
-    const geminiEnvPath = path.join(currentDir, GEMINI_DIR, '.env');
-    if (fs.existsSync(geminiEnvPath)) {
-      return geminiEnvPath;
+    if (isTrusted) {
+      const geminiEnvPath = path.join(currentDir, GEMINI_DIR, '.env');
+      if (fs.existsSync(geminiEnvPath)) {
+        return geminiEnvPath;
+      }
     }
     const envPath = path.join(currentDir, '.env');
     if (fs.existsSync(envPath)) {
@@ -514,9 +516,11 @@ function findEnvFile(startDir: string): string | null {
     const parentDir = path.dirname(currentDir);
     if (parentDir === currentDir || !parentDir) {
       // check .env under home as fallback, again preferring gemini-specific .env
-      const homeGeminiEnvPath = path.join(homedir(), GEMINI_DIR, '.env');
-      if (fs.existsSync(homeGeminiEnvPath)) {
-        return homeGeminiEnvPath;
+      if (isTrusted) {
+        const homeGeminiEnvPath = path.join(homedir(), GEMINI_DIR, '.env');
+        if (fs.existsSync(homeGeminiEnvPath)) {
+          return homeGeminiEnvPath;
+        }
       }
       const homeEnvPath = path.join(homedir(), '.env');
       if (fs.existsSync(homeEnvPath)) {
@@ -559,10 +563,10 @@ export function loadEnvironment(
   workspaceDir: string,
   isWorkspaceTrustedFn = isWorkspaceTrusted,
 ): void {
-  const envFilePath = findEnvFile(workspaceDir);
   const trustResult = isWorkspaceTrustedFn(settings, workspaceDir);
-
   const isTrusted = trustResult.isTrusted ?? false;
+  const envFilePath = findEnvFile(workspaceDir, isTrusted);
+
   // Check settings OR check process.argv directly since this might be called
   // before arguments are fully parsed. This is a best-effort sniffing approach
   // that happens early in the CLI lifecycle. It is designed to detect the
@@ -597,8 +601,8 @@ export function loadEnvironment(
       for (const key in parsedEnv) {
         if (Object.hasOwn(parsedEnv, key)) {
           let value = parsedEnv[key];
-          // If the workspace is untrusted but we are sandboxed, only allow whitelisted variables.
-          if (!isTrusted && isSandboxed) {
+          // If the workspace is untrusted, only allow whitelisted variables.
+          if (!isTrusted) {
             if (!AUTH_ENV_VAR_WHITELIST.includes(key)) {
               continue;
             }

packages/cli/src/config/trustedFolders.test.ts

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import * as os from 'node:os';
 import {
   FatalConfigError,
   ideContextStore,
-  coreEvents,
+  normalizePath,
 } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
 import {
   loadTrustedFolders,
@@ -32,9 +32,14 @@ vi.mock('@google/gemini-cli-core', async (importOriginal) => {
     ...actual,
     homedir: () => '/mock/home/user',
     isHeadlessMode: vi.fn(() => false),
-    coreEvents: {
-      emitFeedback: vi.fn(),
-    },
+    coreEvents: Object.assign(
+      Object.create(Object.getPrototypeOf(actual.coreEvents)),
+      actual.coreEvents,
+      {
+        emitFeedback: vi.fn(),
+      },
+    ),
+    FatalConfigError: actual.FatalConfigError,
   };
 });
 
@@ -53,6 +58,7 @@ describe('Trusted Folders', () => {
     // Reset the internal state
     resetTrustedFoldersForTesting();
     vi.clearAllMocks();
+    delete process.env['GEMINI_CLI_TRUST_WORKSPACE'];
   });
 
   afterEach(() => {
@@ -70,8 +76,14 @@ describe('Trusted Folders', () => {
 
       // Start two concurrent calls
       // These will race to acquire the lock on the real file system
-      const p1 = loadedFolders.setValue('/path1', TrustLevel.TRUST_FOLDER);
-      const p2 = loadedFolders.setValue('/path2', TrustLevel.TRUST_FOLDER);
+      const p1 = loadedFolders.setValue(
+        path.resolve('/path1'),
+        TrustLevel.TRUST_FOLDER,
+      );
+      const p2 = loadedFolders.setValue(
+        path.resolve('/path2'),
+        TrustLevel.TRUST_FOLDER,
+      );
 
       await Promise.all([p1, p2]);
 
@@ -80,8 +92,8 @@ describe('Trusted Folders', () => {
       const config = JSON.parse(content);
 
       expect(config).toEqual({
-        '/path1': TrustLevel.TRUST_FOLDER,
-        '/path2': TrustLevel.TRUST_FOLDER,
+        [normalizePath('/path1')]: TrustLevel.TRUST_FOLDER,
+        [normalizePath('/path2')]: TrustLevel.TRUST_FOLDER,
       });
     });
   });
@@ -95,13 +107,16 @@ describe('Trusted Folders', () => {
 
     it('should load rules from the configuration file', () => {
       const config = {
-        '/user/folder': TrustLevel.TRUST_FOLDER,
+        [normalizePath('/user/folder')]: TrustLevel.TRUST_FOLDER,
       };
       fs.writeFileSync(trustedFoldersPath, JSON.stringify(config), 'utf-8');
 
       const { rules, errors } = loadTrustedFolders();
       expect(rules).toEqual([
-        { path: '/user/folder', trustLevel: TrustLevel.TRUST_FOLDER },
+        {
+          path: normalizePath('/user/folder'),
+          trustLevel: TrustLevel.TRUST_FOLDER,
+        },
       ]);
       expect(errors).toEqual([]);
     });
@@ -143,14 +158,14 @@ describe('Trusted Folders', () => {
       const content = `
         {
           // This is a comment
-          "/path": "TRUST_FOLDER"
+          "${normalizePath('/path').replaceAll('\\', '\\\\')}": "TRUST_FOLDER"
         }
       `;
       fs.writeFileSync(trustedFoldersPath, content, 'utf-8');
 
       const { rules, errors } = loadTrustedFolders();
       expect(rules).toEqual([
-        { path: '/path', trustLevel: TrustLevel.TRUST_FOLDER },
+        { path: normalizePath('/path'), trustLevel: TrustLevel.TRUST_FOLDER },
       ]);
       expect(errors).toEqual([]);
     });
@@ -216,15 +231,18 @@ describe('Trusted Folders', () => {
       fs.writeFileSync(trustedFoldersPath, '{}', 'utf-8');
       const loadedFolders = loadTrustedFolders();
 
-      await loadedFolders.setValue('/new/path', TrustLevel.TRUST_FOLDER);
+      await loadedFolders.setValue(
+        normalizePath('/new/path'),
+        TrustLevel.TRUST_FOLDER,
+      );
 
-      expect(loadedFolders.user.config['/new/path']).toBe(
+      expect(loadedFolders.user.config[normalizePath('/new/path')]).toBe(
         TrustLevel.TRUST_FOLDER,
       );
 
       const content = fs.readFileSync(trustedFoldersPath, 'utf-8');
       const config = JSON.parse(content);
-      expect(config['/new/path']).toBe(TrustLevel.TRUST_FOLDER);
+      expect(config[normalizePath('/new/path')]).toBe(TrustLevel.TRUST_FOLDER);
     });
 
     it('should throw FatalConfigError if there were load errors', async () => {
@@ -237,28 +255,6 @@ describe('Trusted Folders', () => {
         loadedFolders.setValue('/some/path', TrustLevel.TRUST_FOLDER),
       ).rejects.toThrow(FatalConfigError);
     });
-
-    it('should report corrupted config via coreEvents.emitFeedback and still succeed', async () => {
-      // Initialize with valid JSON
-      fs.writeFileSync(trustedFoldersPath, '{}', 'utf-8');
-      const loadedFolders = loadTrustedFolders();
-
-      // Corrupt the file after initial load
-      fs.writeFileSync(trustedFoldersPath, 'invalid json', 'utf-8');
-
-      await loadedFolders.setValue('/new/path', TrustLevel.TRUST_FOLDER);
-
-      expect(coreEvents.emitFeedback).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-        'error',
-        expect.stringContaining('may be corrupted'),
-        expect.any(Error),
-      );
-
-      // Should have overwritten the corrupted file with new valid config
-      const content = fs.readFileSync(trustedFoldersPath, 'utf-8');
-      const config = JSON.parse(content);
-      expect(config).toEqual({ '/new/path': TrustLevel.TRUST_FOLDER });
-    });
   });
 
   describe('isWorkspaceTrusted Integration', () => {
@@ -427,16 +423,28 @@ describe('Trusted Folders', () => {
       },
     };
 
-    it('should return true when isHeadlessMode is true, ignoring config', async () => {
+    it('should NOT return true when isHeadlessMode is true, ignoring config', async () => {
       const geminiCore = await import('@google/gemini-cli-core');
       vi.spyOn(geminiCore, 'isHeadlessMode').mockReturnValue(true);
 
       expect(isWorkspaceTrusted(mockSettings)).toEqual({
-        isTrusted: true,
+        isTrusted: undefined,
         source: undefined,
       });
     });
 
+    it('should return true when GEMINI_CLI_TRUST_WORKSPACE is true', async () => {
+      process.env['GEMINI_CLI_TRUST_WORKSPACE'] = 'true';
+      try {
+        expect(isWorkspaceTrusted(mockSettings)).toEqual({
+          isTrusted: true,
+          source: 'env',
+        });
+      } finally {
+        delete process.env['GEMINI_CLI_TRUST_WORKSPACE'];
+      }
+    });
+
     it('should fall back to config when isHeadlessMode is false', async () => {
       const geminiCore = await import('@google/gemini-cli-core');
       vi.spyOn(geminiCore, 'isHeadlessMode').mockReturnValue(false);
@@ -449,12 +457,12 @@ describe('Trusted Folders', () => {
       );
     });
 
-    it('should return true for isPathTrusted when isHeadlessMode is true', async () => {
+    it('should return undefined for isPathTrusted when isHeadlessMode is true', async () => {
       const geminiCore = await import('@google/gemini-cli-core');
       vi.spyOn(geminiCore, 'isHeadlessMode').mockReturnValue(true);
 
       const folders = loadTrustedFolders();
-      expect(folders.isPathTrusted('/any-untrusted-path')).toBe(true);
+      expect(folders.isPathTrusted('/any-untrusted-path')).toBe(undefined);
     });
   });
 

packages/cli/src/config/trustedFolders.ts

@@ -4,330 +4,29 @@
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
  */
 
-import * as fs from 'node:fs';
-import * as path from 'node:path';
-import * as crypto from 'node:crypto';
-import { lock } from 'proper-lockfile';
 import {
-  FatalConfigError,
-  getErrorMessage,
-  isWithinRoot,
-  ideContextStore,
-  GEMINI_DIR,
-  homedir,
-  isHeadlessMode,
-  coreEvents,
   type HeadlessModeOptions,
+  checkPathTrust,
+  isHeadlessMode,
+  loadTrustedFolders as loadCoreTrustedFolders,
+  type LoadedTrustedFolders,
 } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
 import type { Settings } from './settings.js';
-import stripJsonComments from 'strip-json-comments';
 
-const { promises: fsPromises } = fs;
+export {
+  TrustLevel,
+  isTrustLevel,
+  resetTrustedFoldersForTesting,
+  saveTrustedFolders,
+} from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
 
-export const TRUSTED_FOLDERS_FILENAME = 'trustedFolders.json';
-
-export function getUserSettingsDir(): string {
-  return path.join(homedir(), GEMINI_DIR);
-}
-
-export function getTrustedFoldersPath(): string {
-  if (process.env['GEMINI_CLI_TRUSTED_FOLDERS_PATH']) {
-    return process.env['GEMINI_CLI_TRUSTED_FOLDERS_PATH'];
-  }
-  return path.join(getUserSettingsDir(), TRUSTED_FOLDERS_FILENAME);
-}
-
-export enum TrustLevel {
-  TRUST_FOLDER = 'TRUST_FOLDER',
-  TRUST_PARENT = 'TRUST_PARENT',
-  DO_NOT_TRUST = 'DO_NOT_TRUST',
-}
-
-export function isTrustLevel(
-  value: string | number | boolean | object | null | undefined,
-): value is TrustLevel {
-  return (
-    typeof value === 'string' &&
-    // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-unsafe-type-assertion
-    Object.values(TrustLevel).includes(value as TrustLevel)
-  );
-}
-
-export interface TrustRule {
-  path: string;
-  trustLevel: TrustLevel;
-}
-
-export interface TrustedFoldersError {
-  message: string;
-  path: string;
-}
-
-export interface TrustedFoldersFile {
-  config: Record<string, TrustLevel>;
-  path: string;
-}
-
-export interface TrustResult {
-  isTrusted: boolean | undefined;
-  source: 'ide' | 'file' | undefined;
-}
-
-const realPathCache = new Map<string, string>();
-
-/**
- * Parses the trusted folders JSON content, stripping comments.
- */
-function parseTrustedFoldersJson(content: string): unknown {
-  return JSON.parse(stripJsonComments(content));
-}
-
-/**
- * FOR TESTING PURPOSES ONLY.
- * Clears the real path cache.
- */
-export function clearRealPathCacheForTesting(): void {
-  realPathCache.clear();
-}
-
-function getRealPath(location: string): string {
-  let realPath = realPathCache.get(location);
-  if (realPath !== undefined) {
-    return realPath;
-  }
-
-  try {
-    realPath = fs.existsSync(location) ? fs.realpathSync(location) : location;
-  } catch {
-    realPath = location;
-  }
-
-  realPathCache.set(location, realPath);
-  return realPath;
-}
-
-export class LoadedTrustedFolders {
-  constructor(
-    readonly user: TrustedFoldersFile,
-    readonly errors: TrustedFoldersError[],
-  ) {}
-
-  get rules(): TrustRule[] {
-    return Object.entries(this.user.config).map(([path, trustLevel]) => ({
-      path,
-      trustLevel,
-    }));
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Returns true or false if the path should be "trusted". This function
-   * should only be invoked when the folder trust setting is active.
-   *
-   * @param location path
-   * @returns
-   */
-  isPathTrusted(
-    location: string,
-    config?: Record<string, TrustLevel>,
-    headlessOptions?: HeadlessModeOptions,
-  ): boolean | undefined {
-    if (isHeadlessMode(headlessOptions)) {
-      return true;
-    }
-    const configToUse = config ?? this.user.config;
-
-    // Resolve location to its realpath for canonical comparison
-    const realLocation = getRealPath(location);
-
-    let longestMatchLen = -1;
-    let longestMatchTrust: TrustLevel | undefined = undefined;
-
-    for (const [rulePath, trustLevel] of Object.entries(configToUse)) {
-      const effectivePath =
-        trustLevel === TrustLevel.TRUST_PARENT
-          ? path.dirname(rulePath)
-          : rulePath;
-
-      // Resolve effectivePath to its realpath for canonical comparison
-      const realEffectivePath = getRealPath(effectivePath);
-
-      if (isWithinRoot(realLocation, realEffectivePath)) {
-        if (rulePath.length > longestMatchLen) {
-          longestMatchLen = rulePath.length;
-          longestMatchTrust = trustLevel;
-        }
-      }
-    }
-
-    if (longestMatchTrust === TrustLevel.DO_NOT_TRUST) return false;
-    if (
-      longestMatchTrust === TrustLevel.TRUST_FOLDER ||
-      longestMatchTrust === TrustLevel.TRUST_PARENT
-    )
-      return true;
-
-    return undefined;
-  }
-
-  async setValue(folderPath: string, trustLevel: TrustLevel): Promise<void> {
-    if (this.errors.length > 0) {
-      const errorMessages = this.errors.map(
-        (error) => `Error in ${error.path}: ${error.message}`,
-      );
-      throw new FatalConfigError(
-        `Cannot update trusted folders because the configuration file is invalid:\n${errorMessages.join('\n')}\nPlease fix the file manually before trying to update it.`,
-      );
-    }
-
-    const dirPath = path.dirname(this.user.path);
-    if (!fs.existsSync(dirPath)) {
-      await fsPromises.mkdir(dirPath, { recursive: true });
-    }
-
-    // lockfile requires the file to exist
-    if (!fs.existsSync(this.user.path)) {
-      await fsPromises.writeFile(this.user.path, JSON.stringify({}, null, 2), {
-        mode: 0o600,
-      });
-    }
-
-    const release = await lock(this.user.path, {
-      retries: {
-        retries: 10,
-        minTimeout: 100,
-      },
-    });
-
-    try {
-      // Re-read the file to handle concurrent updates
-      const content = await fsPromises.readFile(this.user.path, 'utf-8');
-      let config: Record<string, TrustLevel>;
-      try {
-        // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-unsafe-type-assertion
-        config = parseTrustedFoldersJson(content) as Record<string, TrustLevel>;
-      } catch (error) {
-        coreEvents.emitFeedback(
-          'error',
-          `Failed to parse trusted folders file at ${this.user.path}. The file may be corrupted.`,
-          error,
-        );
-        config = {};
-      }
-
-      const originalTrustLevel = config[folderPath];
-      config[folderPath] = trustLevel;
-      this.user.config[folderPath] = trustLevel;
-
-      try {
-        saveTrustedFolders({ ...this.user, config });
-      } catch (e) {
-        // Revert the in-memory change if the save failed.
-        if (originalTrustLevel === undefined) {
-          delete this.user.config[folderPath];
-        } else {
-          this.user.config[folderPath] = originalTrustLevel;
-        }
-        throw e;
-      }
-    } finally {
-      await release();
-    }
-  }
-}
-
-let loadedTrustedFolders: LoadedTrustedFolders | undefined;
-
-/**
- * FOR TESTING PURPOSES ONLY.
- * Resets the in-memory cache of the trusted folders configuration.
- */
-export function resetTrustedFoldersForTesting(): void {
-  loadedTrustedFolders = undefined;
-  clearRealPathCacheForTesting();
-}
-
-export function loadTrustedFolders(): LoadedTrustedFolders {
-  if (loadedTrustedFolders) {
-    return loadedTrustedFolders;
-  }
-
-  const errors: TrustedFoldersError[] = [];
-  const userConfig: Record<string, TrustLevel> = {};
-
-  const userPath = getTrustedFoldersPath();
-  try {
-    if (fs.existsSync(userPath)) {
-      const content = fs.readFileSync(userPath, 'utf-8');
-      // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-unsafe-type-assertion
-      const parsed = parseTrustedFoldersJson(content) as Record<string, string>;
-
-      if (
-        typeof parsed !== 'object' ||
-        parsed === null ||
-        Array.isArray(parsed)
-      ) {
-        errors.push({
-          message: 'Trusted folders file is not a valid JSON object.',
-          path: userPath,
-        });
-      } else {
-        for (const [path, trustLevel] of Object.entries(parsed)) {
-          if (isTrustLevel(trustLevel)) {
-            userConfig[path] = trustLevel;
-          } else {
-            const possibleValues = Object.values(TrustLevel).join(', ');
-            errors.push({
-              message: `Invalid trust level "${trustLevel}" for path "${path}". Possible values are: ${possibleValues}.`,
-              path: userPath,
-            });
-          }
-        }
-      }
-    }
-  } catch (error) {
-    errors.push({
-      message: getErrorMessage(error),
-      path: userPath,
-    });
-  }
-
-  loadedTrustedFolders = new LoadedTrustedFolders(
-    { path: userPath, config: userConfig },
-    errors,
-  );
-  return loadedTrustedFolders;
-}
-
-export function saveTrustedFolders(
-  trustedFoldersFile: TrustedFoldersFile,
-): void {
-  // Ensure the directory exists
-  const dirPath = path.dirname(trustedFoldersFile.path);
-  if (!fs.existsSync(dirPath)) {
-    fs.mkdirSync(dirPath, { recursive: true });
-  }
-
-  const content = JSON.stringify(trustedFoldersFile.config, null, 2);
-  const tempPath = `${trustedFoldersFile.path}.tmp.${crypto.randomUUID()}`;
-
-  try {
-    fs.writeFileSync(tempPath, content, {
-      encoding: 'utf-8',
-      mode: 0o600,
-    });
-    fs.renameSync(tempPath, trustedFoldersFile.path);
-  } catch (error) {
-    // Clean up temp file if it was created but rename failed
-    if (fs.existsSync(tempPath)) {
-      try {
-        fs.unlinkSync(tempPath);
-      } catch {
-        // Ignore cleanup errors
-      }
-    }
-    throw error;
-  }
-}
+export type {
+  TrustRule,
+  TrustedFoldersError,
+  TrustedFoldersFile,
+  TrustResult,
+  LoadedTrustedFolders,
+} from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
 
 /** Is folder trust feature enabled per the current applied settings */
 export function isFolderTrustEnabled(settings: Settings): boolean {
@@ -335,57 +34,24 @@ export function isFolderTrustEnabled(settings: Settings): boolean {
   return folderTrustSetting;
 }
 
-function getWorkspaceTrustFromLocalConfig(
-  workspaceDir: string,
-  trustConfig?: Record<string, TrustLevel>,
-  headlessOptions?: HeadlessModeOptions,
-): TrustResult {
-  const folders = loadTrustedFolders();
-  const configToUse = trustConfig ?? folders.user.config;
-
-  if (folders.errors.length > 0) {
-    const errorMessages = folders.errors.map(
-      (error) => `Error in ${error.path}: ${error.message}`,
-    );
-    throw new FatalConfigError(
-      `${errorMessages.join('\n')}\nPlease fix the configuration file and try again.`,
-    );
-  }
-
-  const isTrusted = folders.isPathTrusted(
-    workspaceDir,
-    configToUse,
-    headlessOptions,
-  );
-  return {
-    isTrusted,
-    source: isTrusted !== undefined ? 'file' : undefined,
-  };
+export function loadTrustedFolders(): LoadedTrustedFolders {
+  return loadCoreTrustedFolders();
 }
 
+/**
+ * Returns true or false if the workspace is considered "trusted".
+ */
 export function isWorkspaceTrusted(
   settings: Settings,
   workspaceDir: string = process.cwd(),
-  trustConfig?: Record<string, TrustLevel>,
   headlessOptions?: HeadlessModeOptions,
-): TrustResult {
-  if (isHeadlessMode(headlessOptions)) {
-    return { isTrusted: true, source: undefined };
-  }
-
-  if (!isFolderTrustEnabled(settings)) {
-    return { isTrusted: true, source: undefined };
-  }
-
-  const ideTrust = ideContextStore.get()?.workspaceState?.isTrusted;
-  if (ideTrust !== undefined) {
-    return { isTrusted: ideTrust, source: 'ide' };
-  }
-
-  // Fall back to the local user configuration
-  return getWorkspaceTrustFromLocalConfig(
-    workspaceDir,
-    trustConfig,
-    headlessOptions,
-  );
+): {
+  isTrusted: boolean | undefined;
+  source: 'ide' | 'file' | 'env' | undefined;
+} {
+  return checkPathTrust({
+    path: workspaceDir,
+    isFolderTrustEnabled: isFolderTrustEnabled(settings),
+    isHeadless: isHeadlessMode(headlessOptions),
+  });
 }

packages/cli/src/gemini.test.tsx

@@ -280,6 +280,7 @@ describe('gemini.tsx main function', () => {
     vi.stubEnv('GEMINI_SANDBOX', '');
     vi.stubEnv('SANDBOX', '');
     vi.stubEnv('SHPOOL_SESSION_NAME', '');
+    vi.stubEnv('GEMINI_CLI_TRUST_WORKSPACE', 'true');
 
     initialUnhandledRejectionListeners =
       process.listeners('unhandledRejection');
@@ -555,6 +556,7 @@ describe('gemini.tsx main function kitty protocol', () => {
       rawOutput: undefined,
       acceptRawOutputRisk: undefined,
       isCommand: undefined,
+      skipTrust: undefined,
     });
 
     await act(async () => {
@@ -613,6 +615,7 @@ describe('gemini.tsx main function kitty protocol', () => {
       rawOutput: undefined,
       acceptRawOutputRisk: undefined,
       isCommand: undefined,
+      skipTrust: undefined,
     });
 
     await act(async () => {

packages/cli/src/gemini.tsx

@@ -661,6 +661,12 @@ export async function main() {
 
     cliStartupHandle?.end();
 
+    if (!config.isInteractive()) {
+      for (const warning of startupWarnings) {
+        writeToStderr(warning.message + '\n');
+      }
+    }
+
     // Render UI, passing necessary config values. Check that there is no command line question.
     if (config.isInteractive()) {
       // Earlier initialization phases (like TerminalCapabilityManager resolving

packages/cli/src/gemini_cleanup.test.tsx

@@ -181,6 +181,7 @@ describe('gemini.tsx main function cleanup', () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     vi.clearAllMocks();
     process.env['GEMINI_CLI_NO_RELAUNCH'] = 'true';
+    vi.stubEnv('GEMINI_CLI_TRUST_WORKSPACE', 'true');
   });
 
   afterEach(() => {

packages/cli/src/utils/userStartupWarnings.test.ts

@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ vi.mock('@google/gemini-cli-core', async (importOriginal) => {
     ...actual,
     homedir: () => os.homedir(),
     getCompatibilityWarnings: vi.fn().mockReturnValue([]),
+    isHeadlessMode: vi.fn().mockReturnValue(false),
     WarningPriority: {
       Low: 'low',
       High: 'high',
@@ -143,6 +144,51 @@ describe('getUserStartupWarnings', () => {
     });
   });
 
+  describe('folder trust check', () => {
+    it('should throw FatalUntrustedWorkspaceError when untrusted in headless mode', async () => {
+      const { isHeadlessMode, FatalUntrustedWorkspaceError } = await import(
+        '@google/gemini-cli-core'
+      );
+      vi.mocked(isFolderTrustEnabled).mockReturnValue(true);
+      vi.mocked(isWorkspaceTrusted).mockImplementation(() => {
+        throw new FatalUntrustedWorkspaceError(
+          'Gemini CLI is not running in a trusted directory',
+        );
+      });
+      vi.mocked(isHeadlessMode).mockReturnValue(true);
+
+      await expect(
+        getUserStartupWarnings({}, testRootDir),
+      ).rejects.toThrowError(FatalUntrustedWorkspaceError);
+    });
+
+    it('should not return a warning when trusted in headless mode', async () => {
+      const { isHeadlessMode } = await import('@google/gemini-cli-core');
+      vi.mocked(isFolderTrustEnabled).mockReturnValue(true);
+      vi.mocked(isWorkspaceTrusted).mockReturnValue({
+        isTrusted: true,
+        source: 'file',
+      });
+      vi.mocked(isHeadlessMode).mockReturnValue(true);
+
+      const warnings = await getUserStartupWarnings({}, testRootDir);
+      expect(warnings.find((w) => w.id === 'folder-trust')).toBeUndefined();
+    });
+
+    it('should not return a warning when untrusted in interactive mode', async () => {
+      const { isHeadlessMode } = await import('@google/gemini-cli-core');
+      vi.mocked(isFolderTrustEnabled).mockReturnValue(true);
+      vi.mocked(isWorkspaceTrusted).mockReturnValue({
+        isTrusted: false,
+        source: undefined,
+      });
+      vi.mocked(isHeadlessMode).mockReturnValue(false);
+
+      const warnings = await getUserStartupWarnings({}, testRootDir);
+      expect(warnings.find((w) => w.id === 'folder-trust')).toBeUndefined();
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('compatibility warnings', () => {
     it('should include compatibility warnings by default', async () => {
       const compWarning = {

packages/cli/src/utils/userStartupWarnings.ts

@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ import {
   getCompatibilityWarnings,
   WarningPriority,
   type StartupWarning,
+  isHeadlessMode,
+  FatalUntrustedWorkspaceError,
 } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
 import type { Settings } from '../config/settingsSchema.js';
 import {
@@ -79,10 +81,34 @@ const rootDirectoryCheck: WarningCheck = {
   },
 };
 
+const folderTrustCheck: WarningCheck = {
+  id: 'folder-trust',
+  priority: WarningPriority.High,
+  check: async (workspaceRoot: string, settings: Settings) => {
+    if (!isFolderTrustEnabled(settings)) {
+      return null;
+    }
+
+    const { isTrusted } = isWorkspaceTrusted(settings, workspaceRoot);
+    if (isTrusted === true) {
+      return null;
+    }
+
+    if (isHeadlessMode()) {
+      throw new FatalUntrustedWorkspaceError(
+        'Gemini CLI is not running in a trusted directory. To proceed, either use `--skip-trust`, set the `GEMINI_CLI_TRUST_WORKSPACE=true` environment variable, or trust this directory in interactive mode.',
+      );
+    }
+
+    return null;
+  },
+};
+
 // All warning checks
 const WARNING_CHECKS: readonly WarningCheck[] = [
   homeDirectoryCheck,
   rootDirectoryCheck,
+  folderTrustCheck,
 ];
 
 export async function getUserStartupWarnings(