refactor(sandbox): replace regex exec allowlist with command prefix dictionary

Replace the regex-based presetExecPatterns with presetAllowRules, a
dictionary of command prefix strings (e.g. "go test", "pnpm run lint").

Benefits:
- Readable at a glance without decoding regex alternations
- No regex compilation; matching is a simple word-prefix check
- Easy to extend with new commands per preset
- Each preset's permissions are an explicit list

ExecPolicy.AllowPattern (string) → ExecPolicy.AllowRules ([]string).
ExecTool.SetAllowPatterns → ExecTool.SetAllowRules.
Tests rewritten to use guardCommand directly instead of regex matching.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>

pkg/tools/sandbox.go

@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ func IsValidPreset(p Preset) bool {
 
 // ExecPolicy defines which commands are allowed for execution.
 type ExecPolicy struct {
-	AllowPattern string // Prefix-match regex; matched commands are allowed
+	AllowRules   []string // Command prefix allowlist (e.g., "go test", "pnpm run test")
-	LocalNetOnly bool   // Restrict curl/wget to localhost and RFC 1918 private addresses
+	LocalNetOnly bool     // Restrict curl/wget to localhost and RFC 1918 private addresses
 }
 
 // SandboxConfig describes the sandbox isolation policy for a preset.
@@ -44,15 +44,43 @@ type SubagentEnvironment struct {
 	ContextFiles []string // Files to provide as context
 }
 
-// presetExecPatterns maps presets to command allowlist regexes.
+// presetAllowRules maps presets to command prefix allowlists.
+// Each entry is a command prefix: the first N words of the executed command
+// must match exactly. e.g. "go test" allows "go test ./..." but not "go build".
+// A single word like "curl" allows any arguments.
 // curl/wget are included where exec is allowed; LocalNetOnly in ExecPolicy
 // ensures all curl/wget requests are restricted to localhost and RFC 1918 addresses.
-var presetExecPatterns = map[Preset]string{
+var presetAllowRules = map[Preset][]string{
-	PresetScout:       ``, // No exec allowed
+	PresetScout: nil, // No exec allowed
-	PresetAnalyst:     `^(go\s+(test|vet)|git\s+(log|diff|status)|curl|wget|grep|find)\b`,
+	PresetAnalyst: {
-	PresetCoder:       `^(go\s+(test|vet|fmt)|gofmt|goimports|golangci-lint|prettier|eslint|black|ruff|cargo\s+(test|fmt|clippy)|pnpm\s+(test|run\s+(test|lint|format))|bun\s+(test|run\s+(test|lint|format))|uv\s+run\s+|curl|wget)\b`,
+		"go test", "go vet",
-	PresetWorker:      `^(go\s+|pnpm\s+(install|add|run|test|build)|bun\s+(install|add|run|test|build)|uv\s+(run|sync|add|pip\s+install)|pip\s+install|cargo\s+|curl|wget)\b`,
+		"git log", "git diff", "git status",
-	PresetCoordinator: `^(go\s+|pnpm\s+|bun\s+|curl|wget)\b`,
+		"curl", "wget", "grep", "find",
+	},
+	PresetCoder: {
+		"go test", "go vet", "go fmt",
+		"gofmt", "goimports", "golangci-lint",
+		"prettier", "eslint", "black", "ruff",
+		"cargo test", "cargo fmt", "cargo clippy",
+		"pnpm test", "pnpm run test", "pnpm run lint", "pnpm run format",
+		"bun test", "bun run test", "bun run lint", "bun run format",
+		"uv run",
+		"curl", "wget",
+	},
+	PresetWorker: {
+		"go",
+		"pnpm install", "pnpm add", "pnpm run", "pnpm test", "pnpm build",
+		"bun install", "bun add", "bun run", "bun test", "bun build",
+		"uv run", "uv sync", "uv add", "uv pip install",
+		"pip install",
+		"cargo",
+		"curl", "wget",
+	},
+	PresetCoordinator: {
+		"go",
+		"pnpm", "bun",
+		"curl", "wget",
+	},
 }
 
 // presetSpawnablePresets maps presets to which presets they can spawn.
@@ -110,13 +138,13 @@ func SandboxConfigForPreset(p Preset, writeRoot string) SandboxConfig {
 		config.WriteRoot = writeRoot
 	}
 
-	// Set ExecPolicy if exec is allowed and pattern is non-empty.
+	// Set ExecPolicy if exec is allowed and rules are defined.
 	// LocalNetOnly is always true: curl/wget in subagents is for local server
 	// testing only; external HTTP access goes through the web_fetch tool.
 	if allowed["exec"] {
-		if pattern := presetExecPatterns[p]; pattern != "" {
+		if rules := presetAllowRules[p]; len(rules) > 0 {
 			config.ExecPolicy = &ExecPolicy{
-				AllowPattern: pattern,
+				AllowRules:   rules,
 				LocalNetOnly: true,
 			}
 		}

pkg/tools/sandbox_test.go

@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package tools
 
 import (
-	"regexp"
 	"testing"
 )
 
@@ -167,17 +166,15 @@ func TestSandboxConfigForPreset_Coordinator(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-// TestPresetExecPatterns_Coder validates coder exec allowlist.
+// TestPresetAllowRules_Coder validates coder exec allowlist.
-func TestPresetExecPatterns_Coder(t *testing.T) {
+func TestPresetAllowRules_Coder(t *testing.T) {
-	pattern, ok := presetExecPatterns[PresetCoder]
+	rules := presetAllowRules[PresetCoder]
-	if !ok || pattern == "" {
+	if len(rules) == 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("coder pattern missing or empty")
+		t.Fatalf("coder rules missing or empty")
 	}
 
-	re, err := regexp.Compile(pattern)
+	exec := NewExecTool(t.TempDir(), true)
-	if err != nil {
+	exec.SetAllowRules(rules)
-		t.Fatalf("failed to compile pattern: %v", err)
-	}
 
 	tests := []struct {
 		cmd    string
@@ -185,35 +182,50 @@ func TestPresetExecPatterns_Coder(t *testing.T) {
 	}{
 		{"go test ./...", true},
 		{"go vet ./...", true},
+		{"go fmt ./...", true},
 		{"gofmt -w file.go", true},
 		{"golangci-lint run", true},
-		{"go build ./...", false},
+		{"cargo test", true},
-		{"npm install", false},
+		{"cargo fmt", true},
+		{"cargo clippy", true},
 		{"pnpm test", true},
+		{"pnpm run test", true},
+		{"pnpm run lint", true},
+		{"pnpm run format", true},
+		{"bun test", true},
+		{"bun run test", true},
+		{"uv run pytest", true},
 		// curl/wget are in the allowlist; LocalNetOnly enforcement is at runtime
 		{"curl http://localhost:3000/health", true},
 		{"wget http://127.0.0.1:8080/status", true},
+		// blocked
+		{"go build ./...", false},
+		{"npm install", false},
+		{"pnpm install", false},
+		{"pnpm run build", false},
+		{"cargo build", false},
+		{"pwd", false},
+		{"ls", false},
 	}
 
 	for _, tt := range tests {
-		gotOK := re.MatchString(tt.cmd)
+		result := exec.guardCommand(tt.cmd, t.TempDir())
+		gotOK := result == ""
 		if gotOK != tt.wantOK {
-			t.Errorf("cmd %q: got %v, want %v", tt.cmd, gotOK, tt.wantOK)
+			t.Errorf("cmd %q: got allowed=%v, want %v (guard: %q)", tt.cmd, gotOK, tt.wantOK, result)
 		}
 	}
 }
 
-// TestPresetExecPatterns_Analyst validates analyst exec allowlist.
+// TestPresetAllowRules_Analyst validates analyst exec allowlist.
-func TestPresetExecPatterns_Analyst(t *testing.T) {
+func TestPresetAllowRules_Analyst(t *testing.T) {
-	pattern, ok := presetExecPatterns[PresetAnalyst]
+	rules := presetAllowRules[PresetAnalyst]
-	if !ok || pattern == "" {
+	if len(rules) == 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("analyst pattern missing or empty")
+		t.Fatalf("analyst rules missing or empty")
 	}
 
-	re, err := regexp.Compile(pattern)
+	exec := NewExecTool(t.TempDir(), true)
-	if err != nil {
+	exec.SetAllowRules(rules)
-		t.Fatalf("failed to compile pattern: %v", err)
-	}
 
 	tests := []struct {
 		cmd    string
@@ -223,16 +235,103 @@ func TestPresetExecPatterns_Analyst(t *testing.T) {
 		{"go vet ./...", true},
 		{"git log --oneline", true},
 		{"git diff HEAD", true},
+		{"git status", true},
 		{"grep pattern file", true},
+		{"find . -name '*.go'", true},
 		{"curl http://example.com", true},
+		// blocked
 		{"go build ./...", false},
 		{"npm install", false},
+		{"git push", false},
+		{"git checkout", false},
+		{"pwd", false},
+		{"ls", false},
 	}
 
 	for _, tt := range tests {
-		gotOK := re.MatchString(tt.cmd)
+		result := exec.guardCommand(tt.cmd, t.TempDir())
+		gotOK := result == ""
 		if gotOK != tt.wantOK {
-			t.Errorf("cmd %q: got %v, want %v", tt.cmd, gotOK, tt.wantOK)
+			t.Errorf("cmd %q: got allowed=%v, want %v (guard: %q)", tt.cmd, gotOK, tt.wantOK, result)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// TestPresetAllowRules_Worker validates worker exec allowlist.
+func TestPresetAllowRules_Worker(t *testing.T) {
+	rules := presetAllowRules[PresetWorker]
+	if len(rules) == 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("worker rules missing or empty")
+	}
+
+	exec := NewExecTool(t.TempDir(), true)
+	exec.SetAllowRules(rules)
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		cmd    string
+		wantOK bool
+	}{
+		{"go build ./...", true},
+		{"go test ./...", true},
+		{"pnpm install", true},
+		{"pnpm add lodash", true},
+		{"pnpm run dev", true},
+		{"bun install", true},
+		{"bun build", true},
+		{"uv run pytest", true},
+		{"uv sync", true},
+		{"uv pip install flask", true},
+		{"pip install flask", true},
+		{"cargo build", true},
+		{"cargo test", true},
+		{"curl http://localhost:8080", true},
+		// blocked
+		{"npm install", false},
+		{"pwd", false},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		result := exec.guardCommand(tt.cmd, t.TempDir())
+		gotOK := result == ""
+		if gotOK != tt.wantOK {
+			t.Errorf("cmd %q: got allowed=%v, want %v (guard: %q)", tt.cmd, gotOK, tt.wantOK, result)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// TestPresetAllowRules_Coordinator validates coordinator exec allowlist.
+func TestPresetAllowRules_Coordinator(t *testing.T) {
+	rules := presetAllowRules[PresetCoordinator]
+	if len(rules) == 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("coordinator rules missing or empty")
+	}
+
+	exec := NewExecTool(t.TempDir(), true)
+	exec.SetAllowRules(rules)
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		cmd    string
+		wantOK bool
+	}{
+		{"go build ./...", true},
+		{"go test ./...", true},
+		{"pnpm install", true},
+		{"pnpm run dev", true},
+		{"bun install", true},
+		{"bun run dev", true},
+		{"curl http://localhost:8080", true},
+		{"wget http://127.0.0.1:3000", true},
+		// blocked
+		{"npm install", false},
+		{"cargo build", false},
+		{"pwd", false},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		result := exec.guardCommand(tt.cmd, t.TempDir())
+		gotOK := result == ""
+		if gotOK != tt.wantOK {
+			t.Errorf("cmd %q: got allowed=%v, want %v (guard: %q)", tt.cmd, gotOK, tt.wantOK, result)
 		}
 	}
 }

pkg/tools/shell.go

@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ type ExecTool struct {
 	workingDir          string
 	timeout             time.Duration
 	denyPatterns        []*regexp.Regexp
-	allowPatterns       []*regexp.Regexp
+	allowRules          [][]string // pre-split command prefix allowlist
 	restrictToWorkspace bool
 	localNetOnly        bool // restrict curl/wget to localhost + RFC 1918
 
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ func NewExecToolWithConfig(workingDir string, restrict bool, config *config.Conf
 		workingDir:          workingDir,
 		timeout:             5 * time.Minute,
 		denyPatterns:        denyPatterns,
-		allowPatterns:       nil,
+		allowRules:          nil,
 		restrictToWorkspace: restrict,
 		bgProcesses:         make(map[string]*bgProcess),
 		bgCtx:               bgCtx,
@@ -708,22 +708,15 @@ func (t *ExecTool) guardCommand(command, cwd string) string {
 		}
 	}
 
-	if len(t.allowPatterns) > 0 {
+	if len(t.allowRules) > 0 {
-		allowed := false
+		if !matchAllowRules(lower, t.allowRules) {
-		for _, pattern := range t.allowPatterns {
-			if pattern.MatchString(lower) {
-				allowed = true
-				break
-			}
-		}
-		if !allowed {
 			var b strings.Builder
 			b.WriteString("Command blocked: not in allowlist [")
-			for i, p := range t.allowPatterns {
+			for i, rule := range t.allowRules {
 				if i > 0 {
 					b.WriteByte(',')
 				}
-				b.WriteString(p.String())
+				b.WriteString(strings.Join(rule, " "))
 			}
 			b.WriteByte(']')
 			return b.String()
@@ -847,16 +840,38 @@ func (t *ExecTool) SetRestrictToWorkspace(restrict bool) {
 	t.restrictToWorkspace = restrict
 }
 
-func (t *ExecTool) SetAllowPatterns(patterns []string) error {
+// SetAllowRules sets the command prefix allowlist.
-	t.allowPatterns = make([]*regexp.Regexp, 0, len(patterns))
+// Each rule is a space-separated command prefix (e.g. "go test", "pnpm run lint").
-	for _, p := range patterns {
+// A command is allowed if its first N words match any rule's N words exactly.
-		re, err := regexp.Compile(p)
+func (t *ExecTool) SetAllowRules(rules []string) {
-		if err != nil {
+	t.allowRules = make([][]string, 0, len(rules))
-			return fmt.Errorf("invalid allow pattern %q: %w", p, err)
+	for _, r := range rules {
+		words := strings.Fields(strings.ToLower(r))
+		if len(words) > 0 {
+			t.allowRules = append(t.allowRules, words)
 		}
-		t.allowPatterns = append(t.allowPatterns, re)
 	}
-	return nil
+}
+
+// matchAllowRules checks if cmd matches any prefix in the allowlist.
+func matchAllowRules(cmd string, rules [][]string) bool {
+	cmdWords := strings.Fields(cmd)
+	for _, ruleWords := range rules {
+		if len(cmdWords) < len(ruleWords) {
+			continue
+		}
+		match := true
+		for i, rw := range ruleWords {
+			if cmdWords[i] != rw {
+				match = false
+				break
+			}
+		}
+		if match {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
 }
 
 func (t *ExecTool) SetLocalNetOnly(v bool) {

pkg/tools/subagent.go

@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ func (sm *SubagentManager) buildPresetRegistry(preset Preset, writeRoot string)
 
 	// Register exec and bg_monitor if allowed.
 	// Each subagent gets its own ExecTool to avoid mutating the shared instance's
-	// allowPatterns (which would leak sandbox restrictions to the conductor).
+	// allowRules (which would leak sandbox restrictions to the conductor).
 	if config.AllowedTools["exec"] {
 		execWorkDir := writeRoot
 		if execWorkDir == "" {
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ func (sm *SubagentManager) buildPresetRegistry(preset Preset, writeRoot string)
 			return registry
 		}
 		if config.ExecPolicy != nil {
-			_ = execTool.SetAllowPatterns([]string{config.ExecPolicy.AllowPattern})
+			execTool.SetAllowRules(config.ExecPolicy.AllowRules)
 			execTool.SetLocalNetOnly(config.ExecPolicy.LocalNetOnly)
 		}
 		registry.Register(execTool)