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Use two controls together: a sandbox that technically limits files, processes, and network access, plus an approval policy that decides when the agent must ask you. For a code review, start Codex in read-only mode with codex --sandbox read-only --ask-for-approval on-request. For implementation, use workspace-write with the same approval setting, then add explicit path, network, and credential restrictions. Treat full-access or no-prompt modes as exceptions for disposable environments, not as a normal developer setting.
These controls answer different risks. An approval prompt can stop an individual command, but it does not reduce what an already-approved process can read. A sandbox can deny access even when a tool is allowed to run, but it is not a virtual machine or a replacement for endpoint security. The safest setup gives the agent only the project paths, commands, network destinations, and credentials required for the current task.
What is the difference between approval prompts and sandboxing?
Approvals are a decision point; sandboxing is a technical boundary. Configure both rather than treating one as a substitute for the other.
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An approval policy can require confirmation before a terminal command, a tool call, a URL request, or an action outside the current workspace. Depending on the product and version, policies may be per-command, rule-based, or automatic for commands judged safe. A policy set to never ask is convenient for automation, but it gives you no opportunity to reject a risky command before it runs.
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Sandboxes restrict what an approved process can reach
A sandbox can limit filesystem paths, writes, child processes, and network connections. If a command is approved but the sandbox denies access to a path, the command should fail at that boundary. Restrictions normally apply to the terminal process and its spawned scripts and subprocesses; Anthropic documents Linux bubblewrap and macOS seatbelt implementations with this inheritance behavior.
Microsoft Visual Studio Code documentation states: “Sandboxing is not a virtual machine or user-account boundary, and it does not replace endpoint security.” A local sandbox can still share the host kernel, user identity, device, or other resources. Keep operating-system updates, credential hygiene, and endpoint controls in place.
Which access mode should I choose for a coding task?
Match the mode to the least authority needed for the task, then increase access only when a concrete failure explains why it is required.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems| Use case | Filesystem mode | Approval setting | Typical network posture | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inspect, explain, or plan | Read-only | On request | Off unless a specific lookup is needed | The agent can examine code and propose changes without writing files. |
| Implement inside one repository | Workspace-write | On request | Allow only required hosts | Edits and tests work in the project while unusual commands still pause. |
| CI inspection | Read-only | Never | Off or tightly allowlisted | Deterministic, non-interactive analysis with no write authority. |
| Disposable, isolated experiment | Full access only if independently isolated | Automatic only when justified | Explicitly controlled | Acceptable only when the environment can be destroyed and contains no sensitive data. |
Why full-access bypasses are dangerous
Codex exposes a dangerous bypass, --dangerously-bypass-approvals-and-sandbox, also called --yolo. It removes the two controls that limit accidental deletion, credential exposure, and untrusted code execution. Do not use it on a normal workstation, a repository containing secrets, or a machine with valuable data. If you must use it for a throwaway experiment, run it in a disposable container or managed sandbox with no host credentials.
How do I run Codex with restricted file and terminal access?
Choose the mode before starting the session; changing the prompt behavior later does not retroactively undo access already granted.
- Start with a review command. For inspection or planning, run
codex --sandbox read-only --ask-for-approval on-request. The agent can read files available to the session, but write attempts are blocked by the sandbox. - Use workspace-write for implementation. Run
codex --sandbox workspace-write --ask-for-approval on-requestfrom the repository or explicitly selected workspace. This permits edits in the workspace while preserving approval prompts for actions that need additional authority. - Keep prompts for boundary crossings. Approve a command only after checking its working directory, file targets, arguments, and network behavior. A command such as a package install can both modify files and contact external hosts, so inspect both effects.
- Use non-interactive read-only mode in CI.
codex --sandbox read-only --ask-for-approval neveris suitable for an inspection job that must not pause. Ensure the CI checkout is disposable and that no write-capable credentials are mounted. - Record the effective mode. Put the command-line flags in the job definition or wrapper script so reviewers can see the policy. Do not rely on a developer remembering which mode was used for a previous session.
What workspace-write does and does not mean
Workspace-write is not a blanket grant to your entire home directory. It is intended to allow writes in the designated workspace while keeping other locations restricted. The exact set of readable paths, writable paths, and network destinations depends on the client, operating system, and organization policy, so verify the effective policy before trusting a new installation.
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How can I allow writes only in one directory in VS Code?
Use VS Code’s user-configured sandbox paths to define an explicit allowlist and deny sensitive locations. The path rules are ordered by precedence: denied paths override read-only paths, and read-only paths override read/write paths.
- Open VS Code settings and locate the Chat agent sandbox file-system policy, or edit the settings JSON used by your organization.
- Set
chat.agent.sandbox.fileSystem.userConfiguredPathswithreadwritePathscontaining the repository and, if necessary, a build-output directory. - Add shared source or reference directories to
readonlyPathswhen the agent must inspect them but must never modify them. - Add secret stores, credential directories, unrelated home-directory data, and other high-risk locations to
deniedPaths. - Run the
/sandbox policycommand in the agent session to inspect the effective policy, including settings inherited from a managed organization.
A practical policy might make /work/project and /work/project/build read/write, /work/shared-libraries read-only, and credential or personal-data directories denied. Use paths appropriate to your operating system; do not copy a Unix path into a Windows policy without adapting it.
Why precedence matters
If a directory appears in both a read/write list and a denied list, denial wins. This lets you deny a sensitive subdirectory even when its parent repository is writable. Review nested paths carefully: granting a broad parent and denying only one known secret folder can leave newly created sensitive folders exposed.
How do I stop terminal commands from reaching the network?
Configure network access separately from filesystem access. A sandbox that blocks writes can still allow a process to upload source code, download a package, or call an API unless network policy denies it.
Turn networking off when the task is self-contained
For code explanation, refactoring, and tests that use already-installed dependencies, disable network access. This prevents package downloads and reduces the chance that a malicious dependency or generated command can exfiltrate data.
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Use an allowlist for tasks that need downloads or APIs
When a build genuinely needs a package registry, documentation endpoint, or test service, allow only the required domains and keep all others denied. VS Code provides network filters and allowed or denied domains; the labels and availability vary by version and managed policy. Approval prompts for URLs are an additional check, not a replacement for the domain filter.
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Understand hosted-runner boundaries
Cloudflare describes a hosted Linux sandbox belonging to one task. The controlling Worker holds credentials and determines which hostnames the sandbox can reach. This model is stronger than giving a local process unrestricted access, but the Worker’s credential and hostname configuration still define the real trust boundary.
Can child processes, MCP servers, and language tools escape the sandbox?
Assume that a terminal command can start other programs, and audit every integration that receives the agent’s requests.
Process inheritance
Shell scripts, compilers, test runners, and helper programs launched by a sandboxed terminal generally inherit its restrictions. This prevents a script from regaining unrestricted file access merely by being started from an approved command. Verify this behavior for your specific client and operating system, especially when a tool launches a separate service or daemon.
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MCP and language-server boundaries
MCP servers, language servers, extensions, and built-in tools may have separate permission checks. Review each server’s executable path, working directory, environment variables, filesystem mounts, and network destinations. A tightly sandboxed terminal does not automatically make a separately configured MCP server safe.
Credential exposure
Keep tokens, SSH keys, cloud credentials, and signing keys out of the agent’s environment unless the task requires them. Prefer short-lived, least-privilege credentials mounted only for setup or a single command. A sandbox limits where a process can operate; it does not prove that a credential cannot be read or used within the allowed boundary.
What setup is safest for untrusted code?
Move untrusted work away from the host instead of trying to make a broad local exception safe.
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- Disposable container: start from a clean image, mount only a temporary checkout, and destroy it after the run.
- Development container: keep the project and toolchain inside a defined container while leaving personal files outside its mounts.
- Separate worktree: give the agent an isolated checkout so experimental edits cannot alter the main working tree.
- Managed cloud container: use a task-scoped environment where the service controls hostnames and credentials, and where the agent phase can run offline after setup.
OpenAI describes isolated cloud containers with network access during setup and an offline-by-default agent phase. This pattern lets dependencies be prepared first, then removes network access while the agent edits and tests. Isolation reduces exposure but does not eliminate the need to review code changes before merging.
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Compare configurations across the same six dimensions instead of judging them by a single “safe” label.
| Setup | Filesystem scope | Write authority | Terminal approval | Network | Credential exposure | Isolation strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local read-only session | Workspace or selected paths | None | Per action or on request | Off or allowlisted | Should be none | Local OS sandbox |
| Local workspace implementation | Workspace plus explicit paths | Project files | On request for boundary actions | Allowlisted | Task-specific, short-lived | Local OS sandbox |
| CI inspection job | Disposable checkout | None | Never, non-interactive | Usually off | Read-only or none | CI runner isolation |
| Development container | Mounted project and declared volumes | Container filesystem | Rule-based or on request | Off or allowlisted | Mounted only when needed | Container boundary |
| Managed cloud sandbox | Task-owned Linux environment | Task workspace | Service policy | Hostname-controlled; can be offline during agent phase | Worker or service controlled | Managed container |
What should I check before approving a terminal command?
Use a short review checklist; approval is valuable only when you inspect the command rather than clicking through it.
- Is the working directory the intended repository?
- Does the command write only to approved paths, or does it use a broad path such as a home directory or system temporary directory?
- Does it delete, reset, chmod, chown, or rewrite files?
- Does it invoke a shell with interpolated variables, downloaded scripts, or unreviewed repository hooks?
- Does it open a network connection, and is the destination on the allowlist?
- Could it print environment variables, configuration files, or tokens into logs?
- Will it start a long-lived daemon, container, MCP server, or background process that has a different policy?
For package installation, inspect the lockfile and registry destination, then run it in the isolated workspace. For generated migration or deployment commands, require a human to review the exact SQL, infrastructure plan, or artifact before execution.
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The agent cannot write a project file
Confirm that the file is inside a configured read/write path, that a parent path is not denied, and that the repository is not mounted read-only by the container or CI runner. Inspect the effective policy rather than relying on the workspace name shown in the UI.
A harmless command keeps prompting
Check whether it accesses a path outside the workspace, starts a child process, or contacts a domain not on the network allowlist. Prefer a narrow rule for that command or path; do not switch to full-access mode simply to remove prompts.
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A command succeeds despite an approval setting
Approval settings may cover terminal actions while built-in tools, URLs, or MCP servers use separate checks. Review the tool-specific approval state and the sandbox policy. In VS Code, sandboxing remains effective even when Allow all or Autopilot skips approval prompts, so a successful command may still be confined even though no prompt appeared.
A build fails after network access is disabled
Prepare dependencies during a controlled setup phase, cache them inside the isolated environment, or add the minimum required registry domains temporarily. After installation, return to offline operation and remove any setup credentials that are no longer needed.
What are the limits of these controls?
Sandboxing and approvals reduce accidental impact; they do not guarantee that an agent is trustworthy. A process may still use any files, services, or credentials deliberately exposed to it, and a local sandbox is not a VM or user-account boundary. Treat generated code, dependency changes, shell commands, and network requests as untrusted until reviewed.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can an AI coding agent read files outside the project if it cannot write them?
Often yes, unless you explicitly restrict read access. Read-only means no writes; it does not necessarily mean the workspace is the only readable location, so define allowed, read-only, and denied paths and inspect the effective policy.
Should I give an agent my SSH key so it can clone a dependency?
Usually no. Clone or fetch the dependency in a separate setup step with a short-lived, least-privilege credential, then run the agent without that key. Remove the credential and disable network access for the editing and testing phase.
Is a separate Git worktree safer than a branch in the same checkout?
It limits accidental edits to the main working tree, but it is not a security boundary by itself. Pair the worktree with sandbox path rules, restricted credentials, and network controls so the agent cannot reach unrelated directories.
What evidence should a team retain for an agent run?
Keep the exact agent version, sandbox and approval flags, effective path and network policy, tool configuration, and a reviewable diff or CI log. Those records make it possible to reproduce a failure and confirm that a later policy change did not silently broaden access.
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