From 9b8e6312410948cc789e88f483fe1aee33f2938f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Teknium <127238744+teknium1@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2026 17:09:46 -0700
Subject: [PATCH] fix(file_tools): refuse plain-text writes that corrupt binary
documents
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Port from nearai/ironclaw#7109: read_file auto-extracts .docx/.xlsx/.pptx
(and PDF via anydoc) to readable text, so a model plausibly believes it
holds the file's contents and writes the edited text back with
write_file/patch — silently destroying the document container. Proven
live on main: write_file over a valid .docx left a non-zip corpse, and a
text write over an existing .pdf clobbered the %PDF header.
- tools/binary_extensions.py: OPAQUE_DOCUMENT_EXTENSIONS +
has_opaque_document_extension() + is_pdf_path() (pure string checks)
- tools/file_tools.py: _check_binary_document_write() — opaque container
formats (doc/docx/xls/xlsx/ppt/pptx/odt/ods/odp) always rejected; .pdf
rejected only when overwriting an existing regular file (new-PDF
creation stays allowed, matching the upstream split guard). Wired into
write_file_tool and patch_tool (replace + V4A Update/Add headers;
Delete/Move skip the guard since they write no text).
- tests/tools/test_binary_document_write_guard.py: guard unit tests +
end-to-end write_file/patch coverage incl. bytes-untouched assertions.
---
.../tools/test_binary_document_write_guard.py | 172 ++++++++++++++++++
tools/binary_extensions.py | 29 +++
tools/file_tools.py | 64 ++++++-
3 files changed, 263 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)
create mode 100644 tests/tools/test_binary_document_write_guard.py
diff --git a/tests/tools/test_binary_document_write_guard.py b/tests/tools/test_binary_document_write_guard.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..3bb95d40f5e5c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/tools/test_binary_document_write_guard.py
@@ -0,0 +1,172 @@
+"""Tests for the binary-document write guard (port of nearai/ironclaw#7109).
+
+A plain-text write can never produce a valid OOXML/OLE/ODF container, so
+write_file/patch must refuse to write text into .docx/.xlsx/.pptx (and
+friends), and must refuse to OVERWRITE an existing .pdf — while still
+allowing new-.pdf creation (raw PDF syntax is text-authorable).
+"""
+
+import json
+import zipfile
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from tools.binary_extensions import (
+ has_opaque_document_extension,
+ is_pdf_path,
+)
+from tools.file_tools import (
+ _check_binary_document_write,
+ patch_tool,
+ write_file_tool,
+)
+
+
+def _make_minimal_docx(path: Path) -> None:
+ with zipfile.ZipFile(path, "w") as z:
+ z.writestr(
+ "[Content_Types].xml",
+ '',
+ )
+ z.writestr(
+ "word/document.xml",
+ ''
+ "Quarterly numbers look good."
+ "",
+ )
+
+
+class TestExtensionHelpers:
+ def test_opaque_document_extensions(self):
+ for p in ("a.docx", "b.XLSX", "c.pptx", "d.doc", "e.odt", "f.ods", "g.odp"):
+ assert has_opaque_document_extension(p) is True
+
+ def test_non_opaque_paths(self):
+ for p in ("a.txt", "b.py", "c.pdf", "d.md", "noext", "e.csv"):
+ assert has_opaque_document_extension(p) is False
+
+ def test_is_pdf_path(self):
+ assert is_pdf_path("report.pdf") is True
+ assert is_pdf_path("report.PDF") is True
+ assert is_pdf_path("report.txt") is False
+
+
+class TestCheckBinaryDocumentWrite:
+ def test_docx_always_rejected(self, tmp_path: Path):
+ # Even a NON-existing docx is rejected — text can't be a valid container.
+ err = _check_binary_document_write(str(tmp_path / "new.docx"))
+ assert err is not None
+ assert ".docx" in err
+
+ def test_existing_pdf_rejected(self, tmp_path: Path):
+ pdf = tmp_path / "doc.pdf"
+ pdf.write_bytes(b"%PDF-1.4\n%%EOF\n")
+ err = _check_binary_document_write(str(pdf))
+ assert err is not None
+ assert "overwrite" in err.lower()
+
+ def test_new_pdf_allowed(self, tmp_path: Path):
+ assert _check_binary_document_write(str(tmp_path / "fresh.pdf")) is None
+
+ def test_plain_text_allowed(self, tmp_path: Path):
+ assert _check_binary_document_write(str(tmp_path / "notes.txt")) is None
+
+
+class TestWriteFileToolGuard:
+ def test_write_file_rejects_existing_docx(self, tmp_path: Path):
+ docx = tmp_path / "report.docx"
+ _make_minimal_docx(docx)
+ original = docx.read_bytes()
+
+ result = json.loads(write_file_tool(str(docx), "edited text"))
+
+ assert result.get("error"), "text write into .docx must be refused"
+ assert docx.read_bytes() == original, "document bytes must be untouched"
+ assert zipfile.is_zipfile(docx), "document must remain a valid container"
+
+ def test_write_file_rejects_new_docx(self, tmp_path: Path):
+ result = json.loads(write_file_tool(str(tmp_path / "new.docx"), "hello"))
+ assert result.get("error")
+ assert not (tmp_path / "new.docx").exists()
+
+ def test_write_file_rejects_existing_pdf_overwrite(self, tmp_path: Path):
+ pdf = tmp_path / "doc.pdf"
+ pdf.write_bytes(b"%PDF-1.4\n1 0 obj\nendobj\n%%EOF\n")
+ original = pdf.read_bytes()
+
+ result = json.loads(write_file_tool(str(pdf), "replacement text"))
+
+ assert result.get("error")
+ assert pdf.read_bytes() == original
+
+ def test_write_file_allows_new_pdf_creation(self, tmp_path: Path):
+ pdf = tmp_path / "generated.pdf"
+ result = json.loads(write_file_tool(str(pdf), "%PDF-1.4\n%%EOF\n"))
+ assert not result.get("error")
+ assert pdf.exists()
+
+ def test_write_file_plain_text_unaffected(self, tmp_path: Path):
+ target = tmp_path / "notes.txt"
+ result = json.loads(write_file_tool(str(target), "hello world"))
+ assert not result.get("error")
+ assert target.read_text() == "hello world"
+
+
+class TestPatchToolGuard:
+ def test_patch_replace_rejects_docx(self, tmp_path: Path):
+ docx = tmp_path / "report.docx"
+ _make_minimal_docx(docx)
+ original = docx.read_bytes()
+
+ result = json.loads(
+ patch_tool(mode="replace", path=str(docx),
+ old_string="good", new_string="great")
+ )
+
+ assert result.get("error")
+ assert docx.read_bytes() == original
+
+ def test_patch_v4a_update_rejects_docx(self, tmp_path: Path):
+ docx = tmp_path / "report.docx"
+ _make_minimal_docx(docx)
+ original = docx.read_bytes()
+
+ v4a = (
+ "*** Begin Patch\n"
+ f"*** Update File: {docx}\n"
+ "@@\n"
+ "-good\n"
+ "+great\n"
+ "*** End Patch"
+ )
+ result = json.loads(patch_tool(mode="patch", patch=v4a))
+
+ assert result.get("error")
+ assert docx.read_bytes() == original
+
+ def test_patch_v4a_delete_of_docx_not_blocked_by_guard(self, tmp_path: Path):
+ # Delete doesn't write text content — the binary-document guard must
+ # not fire for it (delete may still fail/succeed for other reasons).
+ docx = tmp_path / "old.docx"
+ _make_minimal_docx(docx)
+
+ v4a = (
+ "*** Begin Patch\n"
+ f"*** Delete File: {docx}\n"
+ "*** End Patch"
+ )
+ result = json.loads(patch_tool(mode="patch", patch=v4a))
+ err = result.get("error") or ""
+ assert "binary document" not in err.lower()
+
+ def test_patch_replace_plain_text_unaffected(self, tmp_path: Path):
+ target = tmp_path / "notes.txt"
+ target.write_text("hello world")
+ result = json.loads(
+ patch_tool(mode="replace", path=str(target),
+ old_string="world", new_string="there")
+ )
+ assert not result.get("error")
+ assert target.read_text() == "hello there"
diff --git a/tools/binary_extensions.py b/tools/binary_extensions.py
index bd4bb8d1de530..17147be80f746 100644
--- a/tools/binary_extensions.py
+++ b/tools/binary_extensions.py
@@ -40,3 +40,32 @@ def has_binary_extension(path: str) -> bool:
if dot == -1:
return False
return path[dot:].lower() in BINARY_EXTENSIONS
+
+
+# Container document formats (OOXML zip / OLE compound / ODF zip) that a
+# plain-text write can NEVER produce validly. read_file auto-extracts these
+# to readable text, so a model that "read" report.docx and then writes the
+# edited text back via write_file/patch silently destroys the document.
+# PDF is intentionally NOT here: raw PDF syntax is text-authorable, so
+# new-file creation is legitimate — only overwrites are dangerous (handled
+# separately by the write guard).
+OPAQUE_DOCUMENT_EXTENSIONS = frozenset({
+ ".doc", ".docx", ".xls", ".xlsx", ".ppt", ".pptx",
+ ".odt", ".ods", ".odp",
+})
+
+
+def has_opaque_document_extension(path: str) -> bool:
+ """True when the path names an opaque container document (.docx etc.).
+
+ Pure string check, no I/O.
+ """
+ dot = path.rfind(".")
+ if dot == -1:
+ return False
+ return path[dot:].lower() in OPAQUE_DOCUMENT_EXTENSIONS
+
+
+def is_pdf_path(path: str) -> bool:
+ """True when the path has a .pdf extension. Pure string check, no I/O."""
+ return path.lower().endswith(".pdf")
diff --git a/tools/file_tools.py b/tools/file_tools.py
index deb55134f542a..4156be2e61ac4 100644
--- a/tools/file_tools.py
+++ b/tools/file_tools.py
@@ -2048,6 +2048,52 @@ def _mark_verification_stale(
logger.debug("verification stale marker failed", exc_info=True)
+def _check_binary_document_write(filepath: str, task_id: str = "default") -> str | None:
+ """Reject text-tool writes that would corrupt a binary document.
+
+ ``read_file`` auto-extracts .docx/.xlsx/.pptx (and PDF, via anydoc) to
+ readable text, so the model plausibly believes it holds the file's
+ contents and tries to write the edited text back with write_file/patch.
+ A plain-text write can never produce a valid OOXML/OLE/ODF container, so
+ that write silently destroys the document (port of nearai/ironclaw#7109).
+
+ Rules:
+ - Opaque container formats (.doc/.docx/.xls/.xlsx/.ppt/.pptx/.odt/.ods/
+ .odp): always rejected — text bytes are never a valid document, whether
+ creating or overwriting.
+ - .pdf: rejected only when OVERWRITING an existing regular file. Raw PDF
+ syntax is text-authorable, so new-file creation stays allowed.
+ """
+ from tools.binary_extensions import has_opaque_document_extension, is_pdf_path
+ if has_opaque_document_extension(filepath):
+ ext = filepath[filepath.rfind("."):].lower()
+ return (
+ f"Refusing to write plain text to binary document '{filepath}' ({ext}). "
+ "A text write cannot produce a valid document container and would "
+ "corrupt the file (read_file showed you EXTRACTED text, not the real "
+ "bytes). Use the docx/xlsx/powerpoint skills or a library like "
+ "python-docx/openpyxl/python-pptx via the terminal to create or edit "
+ "this document."
+ )
+ if is_pdf_path(filepath):
+ try:
+ resolved = Path(_resolve_path_for_task(filepath, task_id))
+ except Exception:
+ resolved = Path(_expand_tilde(filepath))
+ try:
+ if resolved.is_file():
+ return (
+ f"Refusing to overwrite existing PDF '{filepath}' with plain text. "
+ "read_file showed you EXTRACTED text, not the real bytes — writing "
+ "text back would destroy the document. Use the pdf skill or a PDF "
+ "library via the terminal to modify it. (Creating a NEW .pdf file "
+ "is allowed.)"
+ )
+ except OSError:
+ pass
+ return None
+
+
def write_file_tool(path: str, content: str, task_id: str = "default",
cross_profile: bool = False,
session_id: str | None = None) -> str:
@@ -2062,6 +2108,9 @@ def write_file_tool(path: str, content: str, task_id: str = "default",
sensitive_err = _check_sensitive_path(path, task_id)
if sensitive_err:
return tool_error(sensitive_err)
+ binary_doc_err = _check_binary_document_write(path, task_id)
+ if binary_doc_err:
+ return tool_error(binary_doc_err)
protected_err = _check_protected_instruction_write([path], task_id)
if protected_err:
return tool_error(protected_err)
@@ -2146,8 +2195,12 @@ def patch_tool(mode: str = "replace", path: str = None, old_string: str = None,
"""
# Check sensitive paths for both replace (explicit path) and V4A patch (extract paths)
_paths_to_check = []
+ # Paths whose CONTENT will be text-written (Update/Add + explicit path).
+ # V4A Delete/Move don't write text, so they skip the binary-document guard.
+ _content_write_paths = []
if path:
_paths_to_check.append(path)
+ _content_write_paths.append(path)
if mode == "patch" and patch:
import re as _re
from tools.path_security import has_traversal_component
@@ -2173,12 +2226,15 @@ def patch_tool(mode: str = "replace", path: str = None, old_string: str = None,
# it accepts ``***Update File:`` with no space after the asterisks
# (patch_parser.py uses ``\*\*\*\s*Update\s+File:``). Requiring a space
# here let a no-space header parse + apply while skipping this check.
- for _m in _re.finditer(r'^\*\*\*\s*(?:Update|Add|Delete)\s+File:\s*(.+)$', patch, _re.MULTILINE):
- v4a_path = _m.group(1).strip()
+ for _m in _re.finditer(r'^\*\*\*\s*(Update|Add|Delete)\s+File:\s*(.+)$', patch, _re.MULTILINE):
+ _op = _m.group(1)
+ v4a_path = _m.group(2).strip()
_err = _reject_v4a_traversal(v4a_path)
if _err:
return _err
_paths_to_check.append(v4a_path)
+ if _op in ("Update", "Add"):
+ _content_write_paths.append(v4a_path)
# ``*** Move File: src -> dst`` is a valid V4A op (patch_parser.py:114)
# but was never extracted, so a Move targeting /etc/crontab skipped the
# sensitive-path pre-check. Check BOTH endpoints, and run them through
@@ -2197,6 +2253,10 @@ def patch_tool(mode: str = "replace", path: str = None, old_string: str = None,
cross_warning = _check_cross_profile_path(_p, task_id)
if cross_warning:
return tool_error(cross_warning)
+ for _p in _content_write_paths:
+ binary_doc_err = _check_binary_document_write(_p, task_id)
+ if binary_doc_err:
+ return tool_error(binary_doc_err)
# One approval prompt for the whole patch: a single protected file gates
# the ENTIRE patch (deny applies nothing — see the helper's docstring).
protected_err = _check_protected_instruction_write(_paths_to_check, task_id)