fix(kvb-org-organize): no council hook follows a planted symlink or FIFO

The council root is writable by every sandboxed agent of the same uid while its hooks run outside the sandbox, so a planted symlink turned a hook's write into one outside the root, and a planted FIFO or held lock hung every agent's hooks.

- Add nofollow.py: open, read, lock, append, replace and unlink below a root through O_NOFOLLOW directory fds, O_NONBLOCK and regular files only; reads stop at 64 MiB and replace undecodable bytes; locks take an explicit wait.
- watch, queue, radio and council read and write everything below the council root through it; keep_rows copies no symlinked file into ~/.local/state.
- watch: read_json returns dicts only, alert lines that are no alert (deep nesting included) are skipped, cmd_cleanup makes and removes its lock through a root dir fd, and the cache trim walks with fwalk, counts allocated blocks and each inode once.
- radio: the hooks wait at most 2 s for a session lock and skip the delivery past it.
- council: read_claim ignores claims that are no object with session, runtime and beat, so a malformed claim no longer disables the claim gate.

MEDUSA acceptances (kvb-think-criticize 2026-11-06, skeptics A and B): MM-SCAN-058 on nofollow.replace callers, B105 and HPT006 in history.py, RT-SCAN-054 in council.py (name matches).

🎯 Fix: 92 %
💥 Break: 4 %
💸 Cost: 100 %
⏱️ Time: 100 %
🛡️ Security: 100 %
💰 Value: ?
🏆 Score: 88
🚦 Gate: ✅ 90/5, cost and time <= 100, security 100 %

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

skills/kvb-org-organize/scripts/council.py

@@ -26,6 +26,17 @@ import subprocess
 import sys
 import time
 from pathlib import Path
+from types import ModuleType
+
+
+def sibling(name: str) -> ModuleType:
+    spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location(f"kvb_council_{name}", Path(__file__).resolve().parent / f"{name}.py")
+    module = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
+    spec.loader.exec_module(module)
+    return module
+
+
+nofollow = sibling("nofollow")
 
 ROOT = Path(os.environ.get("AGENTS_COUNCIL_ROOT", "/tmp/agents-council"))
 HEARTBEAT_LIMIT = 3600
@@ -66,9 +77,13 @@ def office_dir(office: str) -> Path:
 
 def read_claim(path: Path) -> dict | None:
     try:
-        return json.loads((path / CLAIM).read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+        claim = json.loads(nofollow.read_text(ROOT, path / CLAIM))
-    except (FileNotFoundError, ValueError):
+    except (OSError, ValueError, RecursionError):
         return None
+    shaped = isinstance(claim, dict) and all(
+        isinstance(claim.get(key), kind) for key, kind in (("session", str), ("runtime", str), ("beat", (int, float)))
+    )
+    return claim if shaped else None
 
 
 def is_stale(claim: dict | None, live: dict[str, str | None]) -> bool:

skills/kvb-org-organize/scripts/nofollow.py

@@ -0,0 +1,184 @@
+"""Open, read, lock, append, replace and unlink files below a trusted directory without following a symlink.
+
+The council root is writable by every sandboxed agent of the same uid, while
+its hooks run outside the sandbox: a symlink planted at any name or directory
+below the root would turn a hook's read or write into one outside it, and a
+FIFO planted at a name would hang every agent's hook. Every function here
+opens the root and each directory below it with O_NOFOLLOW, relative to the
+directory before, and the final name with O_NOFOLLOW and O_NONBLOCK; a planted
+symlink, a `..` part, a path outside the root or anything but a regular file
+raises OSError.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import contextlib
+import errno
+import fcntl
+import os
+import stat
+import time
+from collections.abc import Iterator
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import TextIO
+
+DIRECTORY = os.O_RDONLY | os.O_DIRECTORY | os.O_NOFOLLOW | os.O_CLOEXEC
+DIRECTORY_MODE = 0o700
+READ_LIMIT = 1 << 26
+LOCK_POLL = 0.05
+
+
+def parts_below(root: Path, path: Path) -> tuple[str, ...]:
+    try:
+        parts = path.relative_to(root).parts
+    except ValueError:
+        parts = ()
+    if not parts or ".." in parts:
+        raise OSError(errno.EINVAL, f"not a path below {root}", str(path))
+    return parts
+
+
+def directory(root: Path, parts: tuple[str, ...], create: bool) -> int:
+    fd = os.open(root, DIRECTORY)
+    try:
+        for part in parts:
+            if create:
+                with contextlib.suppress(FileExistsError):
+                    os.mkdir(part, DIRECTORY_MODE, dir_fd=fd)
+            child = os.open(part, DIRECTORY, dir_fd=fd)
+            os.close(fd)
+            fd = child
+    except BaseException:
+        os.close(fd)
+        raise
+    return fd
+
+
+def open_below(root: Path, path: Path, flags: int, mode: int) -> int:
+    """Open a file below root.
+
+    Args:
+      root: the trusted directory; a symlink there is refused too.
+      path: the file, below root; with O_CREAT in flags its missing
+        directories are made with mode 0o700.
+      flags: os.open flags; O_NOFOLLOW, O_NONBLOCK and O_CLOEXEC are added.
+      mode: permission bits of a created file.
+
+    Returns:
+      The file descriptor of a regular file; the caller closes it.
+    """
+    *dirs, name = parts_below(root, path)
+    fd = directory(root, tuple(dirs), bool(flags & os.O_CREAT))
+    try:
+        file = os.open(name, flags | os.O_NOFOLLOW | os.O_NONBLOCK | os.O_CLOEXEC, mode, dir_fd=fd)
+    finally:
+        os.close(fd)
+    if not stat.S_ISREG(os.fstat(file).st_mode):
+        os.close(file)
+        raise OSError(errno.EINVAL, "not a regular file", str(path))
+    return file
+
+
+def read_text(root: Path, path: Path) -> str:
+    """Read a regular file below root.
+
+    Args:
+      root: the trusted directory.
+      path: the file, below root; one over READ_LIMIT bytes raises OSError.
+
+    Returns:
+      Its content, UTF-8 decoded, undecodable bytes replaced.
+    """
+    with open(open_below(root, path, os.O_RDONLY, 0), "rb") as handle:
+        data = handle.read(READ_LIMIT + 1)
+    if len(data) > READ_LIMIT:
+        raise OSError(errno.EFBIG, f"larger than {READ_LIMIT} bytes", str(path))
+    return data.decode("utf-8", errors="replace")
+
+
+@contextlib.contextmanager
+def locked(root: Path, path: Path, mode: int, wait: float | None) -> Iterator[TextIO]:
+    """Hold an exclusive flock on a lock file below root, created without truncation.
+
+    Args:
+      root: the trusted directory.
+      path: the lock file, below root.
+      mode: permission bits of a created lock file.
+      wait: seconds to wait for the lock before TimeoutError, or None to wait
+        as long as another holder keeps it.
+
+    Yields:
+      The open lock file.
+    """
+    with open(open_below(root, path, os.O_WRONLY | os.O_CREAT, mode), "w", encoding="utf-8") as handle:
+        if wait is None:
+            fcntl.flock(handle, fcntl.LOCK_EX)
+        else:
+            deadline = time.monotonic() + wait
+            while not try_lock(handle):
+                if time.monotonic() >= deadline:
+                    raise TimeoutError(errno.ETIMEDOUT, f"lock held for over {wait} s", str(path))
+                time.sleep(LOCK_POLL)
+        yield handle
+
+
+def try_lock(handle: TextIO) -> bool:
+    try:
+        fcntl.flock(handle, fcntl.LOCK_EX | fcntl.LOCK_NB)
+    except BlockingIOError:
+        return False
+    return True
+
+
+def append(root: Path, path: Path, text: str, mode: int) -> None:
+    """Append text to a file below root.
+
+    Args:
+      root: the trusted directory.
+      path: the file, below root.
+      text: what to append, UTF-8 encoded.
+      mode: permission bits of a created file.
+    """
+    with open(open_below(root, path, os.O_WRONLY | os.O_CREAT | os.O_APPEND, mode), "a", encoding="utf-8") as handle:
+        handle.write(text)
+
+
+def replace(root: Path, path: Path, text: str, mode: int) -> None:
+    """Replace a file below root atomically through a fresh temp file beside it.
+
+    Args:
+      root: the trusted directory.
+      path: the file, below root; a symlink there is replaced, never followed.
+      text: the new content, UTF-8 encoded.
+      mode: permission bits of the new file.
+    """
+    *dirs, name = parts_below(root, path)
+    fd = directory(root, tuple(dirs), True)
+    try:
+        temp = f".{name}.{os.urandom(8).hex()}"
+        flags = os.O_WRONLY | os.O_CREAT | os.O_EXCL | os.O_NOFOLLOW | os.O_CLOEXEC
+        try:
+            with open(os.open(temp, flags, mode, dir_fd=fd), "w", encoding="utf-8") as handle:
+                handle.write(text)
+            os.replace(temp, name, src_dir_fd=fd, dst_dir_fd=fd)
+        except BaseException:
+            with contextlib.suppress(OSError):
+                os.unlink(temp, dir_fd=fd)
+            raise
+    finally:
+        os.close(fd)
+
+
+def unlink(root: Path, path: Path) -> None:
+    """Remove a name below root; a symlink there is removed, never followed.
+
+    Args:
+      root: the trusted directory.
+      path: the name, below root.
+    """
+    *dirs, name = parts_below(root, path)
+    fd = directory(root, tuple(dirs), False)
+    try:
+        os.unlink(name, dir_fd=fd)
+    finally:
+        os.close(fd)

skills/kvb-org-organize/scripts/watch.py

@@ -49,7 +49,9 @@ kind listed in kinds also needs CPU busy and RAM used below the limits.
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import argparse
+import contextlib
 import fcntl
+import importlib.util
 import json
 import os
 import re
@@ -59,7 +61,17 @@ import subprocess
 import sys
 import time
 from pathlib import Path
+from types import ModuleType
 
+
+def sibling(name: str) -> ModuleType:
+    spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location(f"kvb_watch_{name}", Path(__file__).resolve().parent / f"{name}.py")
+    module = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
+    spec.loader.exec_module(module)
+    return module
+
+
+nofollow = sibling("nofollow")
 ROOT = Path(os.environ.get("AGENTS_COUNCIL_ROOT", "/tmp/agents-council"))
 CONFIG = Path(
     os.environ.get(
@@ -79,6 +91,7 @@ ACCEPTED = ROOT / "security-accepted.jsonl"
 KEPT_ACCEPTED = KEPT / "security-accepted.jsonl"
 MIRRORED = ((HISTORY, KEPT_HISTORY), (ACCEPTED, KEPT_ACCEPTED))
 ALERT_TTL = 3600
+CLEANUP_LOCK = "cleanup.lock"
 LOCK_TTL = 1800
 GB = 1e9
 
@@ -112,20 +125,14 @@ def disk(cfg: dict) -> tuple[float, float]:
 
 def read_json(path: Path) -> dict:
     try:
-        return json.loads(path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+        data = json.loads(nofollow.read_text(ROOT, path))
-    except (OSError, ValueError):
+    except (OSError, ValueError, RecursionError):
         return {}
+    return data if isinstance(data, dict) else {}
 
 
 def write_json(path: Path, data: dict) -> None:
-    # A full disk refuses the write; the stage must still act, so it is dropped.
+    write_text(path, json.dumps(data))
-    try:
-        path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-        tmp = path.with_name(f"{path.name}.{os.getpid()}")
-        tmp.write_text(json.dumps(data), encoding="utf-8")
-        tmp.replace(path)
-    except OSError:
-        pass
 
 
 def stage_for(free: float, samples: list[list[float]], cfg: dict, now: float) -> str:
@@ -147,8 +154,7 @@ def stage_for(free: float, samples: list[list[float]], cfg: dict, now: float) ->
 def alert(stage: str, text: str) -> None:
     try:
         ROOT.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-        with ALERTS.open("a", encoding="utf-8") as handle:
+        nofollow.append(ROOT, ALERTS, json.dumps({"id": time.time_ns(), "stage": stage, "text": text}) + "\n", 0o600)
-            handle.write(json.dumps({"id": time.time_ns(), "stage": stage, "text": text}) + "\n")
     except OSError:
         pass
 
@@ -156,25 +162,28 @@ def alert(stage: str, text: str) -> None:
 def unseen_alerts(session: str) -> list[str]:
     seen_path = ROOT / "seen" / session
     try:
-        seen = int(seen_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+        seen = int(nofollow.read_text(ROOT, seen_path))
     except (OSError, ValueError):
         seen = 0
     try:
-        lines = ALERTS.read_text(encoding="utf-8").splitlines()
+        text = nofollow.read_text(ROOT, ALERTS)
     except OSError:
         return []
     cutoff = time.time_ns() - ALERT_TTL * 10**9
-    fresh = [json.loads(line) for line in lines if line]
+    fresh = [json.loads(line) for _, line in history_rows(text)]
-    fresh = [a for a in fresh if a["id"] > max(seen, cutoff)]
+    fresh = [
+        a for a in fresh
+        if isinstance(a["id"], int) and isinstance(a.get("text"), str) and a["id"] > max(seen, cutoff)
+    ]
     if fresh:
         write_text(seen_path, str(fresh[-1]["id"]))
     return [a["text"] for a in fresh]
 
 
 def write_text(path: Path, text: str) -> None:
+    # A full disk or a planted symlink refuses the write; the stage must still act, so it is dropped.
     try:
-        path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        nofollow.replace(ROOT, path, text, 0o600)
-        path.write_text(text, encoding="utf-8")
     except OSError:
         pass
 
@@ -225,7 +234,7 @@ def history_rows(text: str) -> list[tuple[str, str]]:
     for line in text.splitlines():
         try:
             row = json.loads(line)
-        except ValueError:
+        except (ValueError, RecursionError):
             continue
         if isinstance(row, dict) and "id" in row:
             rows.append((row["id"], line))
@@ -244,7 +253,7 @@ def keep_rows(origin: Path, target: Path) -> None:
             fcntl.flock(kept, fcntl.LOCK_EX)
             kept.seek(0)
             known = {row_id for row_id, _ in history_rows(kept.read())}
-            for row_id, line in history_rows(origin.read_text(encoding="utf-8")):
+            for row_id, line in history_rows(nofollow.read_text(ROOT, origin)):
                 if row_id not in known:
                     known.add(row_id)
                     kept.write(line + "\n")
@@ -371,17 +380,20 @@ def cmd_admit(cfg: dict, args: argparse.Namespace) -> int:
     return 0 if verdict == "grant" else 3
 
 
-def cache_files(dirs: list[str]) -> list[tuple[float, int, str]]:
+def cache_files(dirs: list[str]) -> list[tuple[float, int, str, str]]:
     files = []
-    for root in dirs:
+    seen: set[tuple[int, int]] = set()
-        for base, _, names in os.walk(os.path.expanduser(root)):
+    for root in map(os.path.expanduser, dirs):
+        for base, _, names, fd in os.fwalk(root, follow_symlinks=False):
             for name in names:
-                path = os.path.join(base, name)
                 try:
-                    st = os.lstat(path)
+                    st = os.stat(name, dir_fd=fd, follow_symlinks=False)
                 except OSError:
                     continue
-                files.append((st.st_atime, st.st_size, path))
+                if (st.st_dev, st.st_ino) in seen:
+                    continue
+                seen.add((st.st_dev, st.st_ino))
+                files.append((st.st_atime, st.st_blocks * 512, os.path.join(base, name), root))
     return files
 
 
@@ -389,13 +401,13 @@ def trim_caches(cfg: dict) -> float:
     _, total = disk(cfg)
     budget = total * GB * cfg["cache_budget_percent"] / 100
     files = sorted(cache_files(cfg["cache_dirs"]))
-    used = sum(size for _, size, _ in files)
+    used = sum(size for _, size, _, _ in files)
     freed = 0
-    for _, size, path in files:
+    for _, size, path, root in files:
         if used - freed <= budget:
             break
         try:
-            os.remove(path)
+            nofollow.unlink(Path(root), Path(path))
             freed += size
         except OSError:
             continue
@@ -448,32 +460,32 @@ def run_cleanup(cfg: dict) -> list[str]:
 
 
 def cmd_cleanup(cfg: dict, args: argparse.Namespace) -> int:
-    lock = ROOT / "cleanup.lock"
+    root = nofollow.directory(ROOT, (), True)
-    ROOT.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
     try:
-        if time.time() - lock.stat().st_mtime > LOCK_TTL:
+        with contextlib.suppress(FileNotFoundError, NotADirectoryError):
-            lock.rmdir()
+            if time.time() - os.stat(CLEANUP_LOCK, dir_fd=root, follow_symlinks=False).st_mtime > LOCK_TTL:
-    except FileNotFoundError:
+                os.rmdir(CLEANUP_LOCK, dir_fd=root)
-        pass
+        try:
-    try:
+            os.mkdir(CLEANUP_LOCK, 0o700, dir_fd=root)
-        lock.mkdir()
+        except FileExistsError:
-    except FileExistsError:
+            return 0
-        return 0
+        try:
-    try:
+            before, _ = disk(cfg)
-        before, _ = disk(cfg)
+            results = run_cleanup(cfg) if args.full else []
-        results = run_cleanup(cfg) if args.full else []
+            cache_gb = trim_caches(cfg)
-        cache_gb = trim_caches(cfg)
+            after, _ = disk(cfg)
-        after, _ = disk(cfg)
+            failed = [r for r in results if not r.startswith("ok")]
-        failed = [r for r in results if not r.startswith("ok")]
+            if args.full or cache_gb:
-        if args.full or cache_gb:
+                alert(
-            alert(
+                    "cleanup",
-                "cleanup",
+                    f"RESOURCE CLEANUP: freed {after - before:.1f} GB ({cache_gb:.1f} GB caches), "
-                f"RESOURCE CLEANUP: freed {after - before:.1f} GB ({cache_gb:.1f} GB caches), "
+                    f"/ now {after:.1f} GB free; {len(results) - len(failed)} commands ok"
-                f"/ now {after:.1f} GB free; {len(results) - len(failed)} commands ok"
+                    + (f", failed: {' | '.join(failed)}" if failed else "."),
-                + (f", failed: {' | '.join(failed)}" if failed else "."),
+                )
-            )
+        finally:
+            os.rmdir(CLEANUP_LOCK, dir_fd=root)
     finally:
-        lock.rmdir()
+        os.close(root)
     return 0
 
 

skills/kvb-org-queue/scripts/history.py

@@ -101,10 +101,8 @@ def row(job: dict, start: float, end: float, code: int, samples: list[dict[str,
     }
 
 
-def record(path: Path, entry: dict) -> None:
+def line(entry: dict) -> str:
-    path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    return json.dumps(entry, sort_keys=True) + "\n"
-    with path.open("a", encoding="utf-8") as handle:
-        handle.write(json.dumps(entry, sort_keys=True) + "\n")
 
 
 def read(paths: Iterable[Path]) -> list[dict]:

skills/kvb-org-queue/scripts/queue.py

@@ -95,7 +95,6 @@ import shlex
 import signal
 import subprocess
 import sys
-import tempfile
 import time
 from collections import Counter
 from collections.abc import Iterator
@@ -109,6 +108,7 @@ SIBLINGS = {
     "council": SKILLS / "kvb-org-organize" / "scripts" / "council.py",
     "rasci": SKILLS / "kvb-org-rasci" / "scripts" / "rasci.py",
     "history": Path(__file__).resolve().parent / "history.py",
+    "nofollow": SKILLS / "kvb-org-organize" / "scripts" / "nofollow.py",
 }
 POLL_SECONDS = 20
 TICK_SECONDS = 0.2
@@ -135,6 +135,7 @@ def sibling(name: str) -> ModuleType:
 
 watch = sibling("watch")
 history = sibling("history")
+nofollow = sibling("nofollow")
 STORE = watch.ROOT / "queue.json"
 LOCK = watch.ROOT / "queue.lock"
 HOLDS = watch.ROOT / "holds"
@@ -203,29 +204,30 @@ def held(tag: object) -> bool:
         return False
     path = HOLDS / f"{tag}.lock"
     try:
-        handle = path.open(encoding="utf-8")
+        fd = nofollow.open_below(watch.ROOT, path, os.O_RDONLY, 0)
     except FileNotFoundError:
         return False
-    with handle:
+    with open(fd, encoding="utf-8") as handle:
         try:
             fcntl.flock(handle, fcntl.LOCK_EX | fcntl.LOCK_NB)
         except BlockingIOError:
             return True
-    path.unlink(missing_ok=True)
+    with contextlib.suppress(FileNotFoundError):
+        nofollow.unlink(watch.ROOT, path)
     return False
 
 
 @contextlib.contextmanager
 def holding() -> Iterator[tuple[str, int]]:
-    HOLDS.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
     tag = f"{os.getpid()}-{time.time_ns()}"
     path = HOLDS / f"{tag}.lock"
-    with path.open("w", encoding="utf-8") as handle:
+    with nofollow.locked(watch.ROOT, path, 0o600, None) as handle:
-        fcntl.flock(handle, fcntl.LOCK_EX)
         try:
             yield tag, handle.fileno()
         finally:
-            path.unlink(missing_ok=True)
+            # A symlink planted over holds/ refuses the unlink; the job's exit code must still come through.
+            with contextlib.suppress(OSError):
+                nofollow.unlink(watch.ROOT, path)
 
 
 def living(entry: dict) -> bool:
@@ -252,15 +254,10 @@ def read_store() -> dict:
 @contextlib.contextmanager
 def store() -> Iterator[dict]:
     watch.ROOT.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-    with LOCK.open("a", encoding="utf-8") as lock:
+    with nofollow.locked(watch.ROOT, LOCK, 0o600, None):
-        fcntl.flock(lock, fcntl.LOCK_EX)
         data = read_store()
         yield data
-        with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(
+        nofollow.replace(watch.ROOT, STORE, json.dumps(data, indent=1, sort_keys=True), 0o600)
-            "w", dir=watch.ROOT, prefix=".queue-", delete=False, encoding="utf-8"
-        ) as tmp:
-            json.dump(data, tmp, indent=1, sort_keys=True)
-        os.replace(tmp.name, STORE)
 
 
 def ordered(waiting: list[dict], ranks: dict[str, int], now: float) -> list[dict]:
@@ -465,7 +462,7 @@ def supervise(cfg: dict, child: subprocess.Popen, samples: list[dict[str, float]
 
 def keep(row: dict) -> None:
     try:
-        history.record(watch.HISTORY, row)
+        nofollow.append(watch.ROOT, watch.HISTORY, history.line(row), 0o600)
     except OSError as error:
         # A full disk refuses the row; the job's exit code must still come through.
         print(f"queue: no history row for {row['id']}: {error.strerror}", file=sys.stderr)

skills/kvb-org-radio/scripts/radio.py

@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 import argparse
 import contextlib
 import datetime
-import fcntl
 import functools
 import importlib.util
 import json
@@ -50,7 +49,6 @@ import math
 import os
 import subprocess
 import sys
-import tempfile
 import time
 from collections.abc import Iterator
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -74,6 +72,7 @@ URGENT = ("mayday", "pan-pan", "security")
 WINDOW = 86400
 SHOWN = 10
 CLIP = 1000
+SESSION_WAIT = 2
 KEPT = 500
 SILENCE_SECONDS = 7200
 NOTIFY_SECONDS = 10
@@ -104,7 +103,7 @@ def name_of(sid: str) -> str:
 
 def items() -> list[dict]:
     try:
-        lines = NEWS.read_text(encoding="utf-8").splitlines()
+        lines = organize("nofollow").read_text(ROOT, NEWS).splitlines()
     except OSError:
         return []
     rows = []
@@ -161,21 +160,19 @@ def for_me(row: dict, name: str) -> bool:
 
 def read_json(path: Path) -> dict:
     try:
-        data = json.loads(path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+        data = json.loads(organize("nofollow").read_text(ROOT, path))
     except (OSError, ValueError):
         return {}
     return data if isinstance(data, dict) else {}
 
 
 def write_atomic(path: Path, text: str) -> None:
-    with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile("w", dir=path.parent, delete=False, encoding="utf-8") as handle:
+    organize("nofollow").replace(ROOT, path, text, 0o600)
-        handle.write(text)
-    os.replace(handle.name, path)
 
 
 def prompt_mark(sid: str) -> float:
     try:
-        return float((SEEN / sid).read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+        return float(organize("nofollow").read_text(ROOT, SEEN / sid))
     except (OSError, ValueError):
         return NEVER
 
@@ -194,9 +191,7 @@ def news_mtime() -> float | None:
 
 @contextlib.contextmanager
 def session(sid: str) -> Iterator[dict]:
-    STATE.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    with organize("nofollow").locked(ROOT, STATE / f"{sid}.lock", 0o600, SESSION_WAIT):
-    with (STATE / f"{sid}.lock").open("w") as lock:
-        fcntl.flock(lock, fcntl.LOCK_EX)
         yield read_json(STATE / f"{sid}.json")
 
 
@@ -229,8 +224,8 @@ def notify_once(active: dict | None) -> None:
         return
     try:
         argv = json.loads(CONFIG.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))["notify"]
-        NOTIFIED.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        marker = NOTIFIED / str(active["since"])
-        os.close(os.open(NOTIFIED / str(active["since"]), os.O_CREAT | os.O_EXCL | os.O_WRONLY))
+        os.close(organize("nofollow").open_below(ROOT, marker, os.O_CREAT | os.O_EXCL | os.O_WRONLY, 0o600))
         subprocess.run(
             [*argv, f"Agents radio MAYDAY by {active['by']}: {active['text']}"],
             capture_output=True,
@@ -243,7 +238,7 @@ def notify_once(active: dict | None) -> None:
 
 def listening(sid: str) -> bool:
     try:
-        pid = int((LISTEN / f"{sid}.pid").read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+        pid = int(organize("nofollow").read_text(ROOT, LISTEN / f"{sid}.pid"))
     except (OSError, ValueError):
         return False
     if pid <= 0:
@@ -280,8 +275,7 @@ def cmd_send(args: argparse.Namespace) -> int:
     sid, _ = council().caller(args.session)
     sender = name_of(sid)
     ROOT.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-    with LOCK.open("w") as lock:
+    with organize("nofollow").locked(ROOT, LOCK, 0o600, None):
-        fcntl.flock(lock, fcntl.LOCK_EX)
         rows = items()
         ts = time.time()
         if rows:
@@ -312,8 +306,7 @@ def cmd_clear(args: argparse.Namespace) -> int:
     sid, _ = council().caller(args.session)
     me = name_of(sid)
     ROOT.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-    with LOCK.open("w") as lock:
+    with organize("nofollow").locked(ROOT, LOCK, 0o600, None):
-        fcntl.flock(lock, fcntl.LOCK_EX)
         active = silence()
         if active is None:
             print("no radio silence active")
@@ -350,8 +343,7 @@ def cmd_hook(_: argparse.Namespace) -> int:
             rows = unseen(sid, name)
             out += capped([row for row in rows if not delivered(row, state)])
             if rows:
-                SEEN.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+                write_atomic(SEEN / sid, str(max(row["ts"] for row in rows)))
-                (SEEN / sid).write_text(str(max(row["ts"] for row in rows)), encoding="utf-8")
         if out:
             print("\n".join(out))
         notify_once(active)
@@ -414,14 +406,13 @@ def cmd_listen(_: argparse.Namespace) -> int:
         sid = hook_session()
         if not sid:
             return 0
-        LISTEN.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
         pidfile = LISTEN / f"{sid}.pid"
         mine = str(os.getpid())
         write_atomic(pidfile, mine)
         parent = os.getppid()
         known: float | None = None
         # A listener outliving its session would poll forever; the session exiting changes its parent.
-        while pidfile.read_text(encoding="utf-8") == mine and os.getppid() == parent:
+        while organize("nofollow").read_text(ROOT, pidfile) == mine and os.getppid() == parent:
             mtime = news_mtime()
             if mtime != known:
                 known = mtime

tests/test_council.py

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import json
+import os
 import subprocess
 import sys
 import tempfile
@@ -85,6 +86,23 @@ class TestCouncil(unittest.TestCase):
         self._run("s1", "claim", "work/x", "--work", "w")
         self.assertEqual(self._run("s1", "gate", stdin=inside).returncode, 0)
 
+    def test_gate_still_blocks_past_a_planted_fifo_or_malformed_claim(self):
+        repo = Path(self.tmp.name) / "repo"
+        (repo / ".git").mkdir(parents=True)
+        inside = json.dumps({"session_id": "s1", "tool_input": {"file_path": str(repo / "f")}})
+        (self.root / "work" / "fifo").mkdir(parents=True)
+        os.mkfifo(self.root / "work" / "fifo" / "claim.json", 0o600)
+        for claim in ({}, [], {"session": "s2", "runtime": "claude-code"}):
+            with self.subTest(claim=claim):
+                (self.root / "work" / "bad").mkdir(exist_ok=True)
+                (self.root / "work" / "bad" / "claim.json").write_text(json.dumps(claim), encoding="utf-8")
+                env = {"PATH": "/usr/bin:/bin", "HOME": str(self.home), "AGENTS_COUNCIL_ROOT": str(self.root)}
+                result = subprocess.run(
+                    [sys.executable, str(COUNCIL), "gate"],
+                    capture_output=True, text=True, env=env, input=inside, check=False, timeout=30,
+                )
+                self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 2, result.stderr)
+
     def _two_claims(self) -> str:
         work = "fix the failing deploy of web-app-x on branch fix/web-app-x/deploy"
         self._run("s1", "claim", "work/x", "--work", work)

tests/test_nofollow.py

@@ -0,0 +1,178 @@
+"""Exercise nofollow.py: no open, read, lock, append, replace or unlink below a root follows a planted symlink."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import importlib.util
+import os
+import signal
+import stat
+import tempfile
+import time
+import unittest
+from pathlib import Path
+
+REPO_ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
+NOFOLLOW = REPO_ROOT / "skills" / "kvb-org-organize" / "scripts" / "nofollow.py"
+
+
+def _load():
+    spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location("nofollow_under_test", NOFOLLOW)
+    module = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
+    spec.loader.exec_module(module)
+    return module
+
+
+class TestNofollow(unittest.TestCase):
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        cls.nofollow = _load()
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        tmp = tempfile.TemporaryDirectory()
+        self.addCleanup(tmp.cleanup)
+        self.base = Path(tmp.name)
+        self.root = self.base / "council"
+        self.root.mkdir(mode=0o700)
+        self.victim = self.base / "victim"
+        self.victim.write_text("keep", encoding="utf-8")
+        self.victims = self.base / "victims"
+        self.victims.mkdir()
+
+    def writes(self, root: Path) -> dict:
+        nofollow = self.nofollow
+
+        def lock(path: Path) -> None:
+            with nofollow.locked(root, path, 0o600, None):
+                pass
+
+        return {
+            "replace": lambda path: nofollow.replace(root, path, "x", 0o600),
+            "append": lambda path: nofollow.append(root, path, "x", 0o600),
+            "lock": lock,
+            "read": lambda path: nofollow.read_text(root, path),
+            "create": lambda path: os.close(
+                nofollow.open_below(root, path, os.O_WRONLY | os.O_CREAT | os.O_EXCL, 0o600)
+            ),
+        }
+
+    def test_writes_land_below_the_root_in_private_directories(self):
+        target = self.root / "a" / "b" / "f"
+        self.nofollow.replace(self.root, target, "one", 0o600)
+        self.nofollow.replace(self.root, target, "two", 0o600)
+        self.nofollow.append(self.root, target, "+", 0o600)
+        self.assertEqual(target.read_text(encoding="utf-8"), "two+")
+        self.assertEqual(sorted(os.listdir(target.parent)), ["f"])
+        self.assertEqual(stat.S_IMODE((self.root / "a").stat().st_mode), 0o700)
+        self.assertEqual(stat.S_IMODE(target.stat().st_mode), 0o600)
+        with self.nofollow.locked(self.root, self.root / "c" / "lock", 0o600, None) as handle:
+            handle.write("held")
+        self.assertEqual((self.root / "c" / "lock").read_text(encoding="utf-8"), "held")
+        with self.nofollow.locked(self.root, self.root / "c" / "lock", 0o600, 1):
+            pass
+        self.assertEqual((self.root / "c" / "lock").read_text(encoding="utf-8"), "held")
+        self.nofollow.unlink(self.root, target)
+        self.assertFalse(target.exists())
+
+    def test_replace_swaps_a_planted_link_and_keeps_its_target(self):
+        dangling = self.base / "created"
+        for target in (self.victim, dangling):
+            with self.subTest(target=target.name):
+                link = self.root / "f"
+                link.symlink_to(target)
+                self.nofollow.replace(self.root, link, "x", 0o600)
+                self.assertFalse(link.is_symlink())
+                self.assertEqual(link.read_text(encoding="utf-8"), "x")
+                link.unlink()
+        self.assertEqual(self.victim.read_text(encoding="utf-8"), "keep")
+        self.assertFalse(dangling.exists())
+
+    def test_a_symlinked_name_is_refused_and_its_target_kept(self):
+        dangling = self.base / "created"
+        followers = {name: write for name, write in self.writes(self.root).items() if name != "replace"}
+        for name, write in followers.items():
+            with self.subTest(write=name):
+                link = self.root / name
+                link.symlink_to(self.victim)
+                with self.assertRaises(OSError):
+                    write(link)
+                self.assertEqual(self.victim.read_text(encoding="utf-8"), "keep")
+                link.unlink()
+                link.symlink_to(dangling)
+                with self.assertRaises(OSError):
+                    write(link)
+                self.assertFalse(dangling.exists())
+
+    def test_a_symlinked_directory_is_refused_and_nothing_lands_in_its_target(self):
+        (self.root / "d").symlink_to(self.victims)
+        (self.victims / "f").write_text("keep", encoding="utf-8")
+        for name, write in self.writes(self.root).items():
+            with self.subTest(write=name):
+                with self.assertRaises(OSError):
+                    write(self.root / "d" / name)
+                with self.assertRaises(OSError):
+                    write(self.root / "d" / "deeper" / name)
+        with self.assertRaises(OSError):
+            self.nofollow.unlink(self.root, self.root / "d" / "f")
+        self.assertEqual(os.listdir(self.victims), ["f"])
+        self.assertEqual((self.victims / "f").read_text(encoding="utf-8"), "keep")
+
+    def test_a_symlinked_root_is_refused(self):
+        link = self.base / "link"
+        link.symlink_to(self.victims)
+        for name, write in self.writes(link).items():
+            with self.subTest(write=name), self.assertRaises(OSError):
+                write(link / name)
+        self.assertEqual(os.listdir(self.victims), [])
+
+    def test_a_path_outside_the_root_is_refused(self):
+        escaped = self.base / "escaped"
+        for path in (self.root / ".." / "escaped", self.root / "a" / ".." / ".." / "escaped", escaped, self.root):
+            for name, write in self.writes(self.root).items():
+                with self.subTest(path=str(path), write=name), self.assertRaises(OSError):
+                    write(path)
+        self.assertFalse(escaped.exists())
+        self.assertFalse((self.root / "a").exists())
+
+    def test_a_fifo_at_a_name_is_refused_without_blocking(self):
+        def blocked(*_: object) -> None:
+            raise AssertionError("blocked on a FIFO")
+
+        previous = signal.signal(signal.SIGALRM, blocked)
+        self.addCleanup(signal.signal, signal.SIGALRM, previous)
+        self.addCleanup(signal.alarm, 0)
+        followers = {name: access for name, access in self.writes(self.root).items() if name != "replace"}
+        for name, access in followers.items():
+            with self.subTest(access=name):
+                fifo = self.root / name
+                os.mkfifo(fifo, 0o600)
+                signal.alarm(5)
+                with self.assertRaises(OSError):
+                    access(fifo)
+                signal.alarm(0)
+
+    def test_a_held_lock_times_out_instead_of_hanging(self):
+        path = self.root / "lock"
+        with self.nofollow.locked(self.root, path, 0o600, None):
+            start = time.monotonic()
+            with self.assertRaises(TimeoutError), self.nofollow.locked(self.root, path, 0o600, 0.2):
+                pass
+            self.assertLess(time.monotonic() - start, 5)
+
+    def test_read_refuses_a_file_over_the_limit_and_replaces_undecodable_bytes(self):
+        self.addCleanup(setattr, self.nofollow, "READ_LIMIT", self.nofollow.READ_LIMIT)
+        self.nofollow.READ_LIMIT = 4
+        (self.root / "f").write_bytes(b"\xff\n")
+        self.assertEqual(self.nofollow.read_text(self.root, self.root / "f"), "�\n")
+        (self.root / "f").write_bytes(b"12345")
+        with self.assertRaises(OSError):
+            self.nofollow.read_text(self.root, self.root / "f")
+
+    def test_unlink_removes_a_planted_link_and_keeps_its_target(self):
+        (self.root / "l").symlink_to(self.victim)
+        self.nofollow.unlink(self.root, self.root / "l")
+        self.assertFalse((self.root / "l").is_symlink())
+        self.assertEqual(self.victim.read_text(encoding="utf-8"), "keep")
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()

tests/test_queue.py

@@ -617,6 +617,47 @@ class TestQueueCommands(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(self.bash("ls"), 0)
         self.assertEqual(self.bash("echo it's"), 0)
 
+    def test_hold_creates_no_lock_in_a_planted_holds_directory(self):
+        victims = self.base / "victims"
+        victims.mkdir()
+        (self.root / "holds").symlink_to(victims)
+        seen = self.base / "seen.txt"
+        listing = "import os, sys; open(sys.argv[2], 'w').write(repr(os.listdir(sys.argv[1])))"
+        result = self.run_queue(
+            "hold", "--kind", "test", "--task", "work/a", "--session", "s1", "--",
+            sys.executable, "-c", listing, str(victims), str(seen),
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(seen.read_text(encoding="utf-8") if seen.exists() else "[]", "[]")
+        self.assertEqual(os.listdir(victims), [])
+        self.assertNotEqual(result.returncode, 0)
+
+    def test_list_unlinks_no_lock_in_a_planted_holds_directory(self):
+        victims = self.base / "victims"
+        victims.mkdir()
+        (victims / "1-2.lock").write_text("", encoding="utf-8")
+        (self.root / "holds").symlink_to(victims)
+        gone = subprocess.Popen(["true"])
+        gone.wait()
+        self.write_store([{**stored(1, "waiting", gone.pid, "1", None, None), "lock": "1-2"}])
+        self.run_queue("list")
+        self.assertEqual(os.listdir(victims), ["1-2.lock"])
+
+    def test_the_store_lock_creates_no_file_through_a_planted_name(self):
+        created = self.base / "created"
+        (self.root / "queue.lock").symlink_to(created)
+        result = self.run_queue("list")
+        self.assertFalse(created.exists())
+        self.assertNotEqual(result.returncode, 0)
+
+    def test_hold_appends_no_history_row_through_a_planted_name(self):
+        victim = self.base / "victim"
+        victim.write_text("keep\n", encoding="utf-8")
+        self.history_file.symlink_to(victim)
+        result = self.run_queue("hold", "--kind", "test", "--task", "work/a", "--session", "s1", "--", "true")
+        self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 0, result.stderr)
+        self.assertIn("no history row", result.stderr)
+        self.assertEqual(victim.read_text(encoding="utf-8"), "keep\n")
+
     def test_a_council_root_others_can_write_stops_commands_but_not_the_hook(self):
         self.root.chmod(0o777)
         refused = self.run_queue("list")

tests/test_radio.py

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import fcntl
 import json
 import os
 import subprocess
@@ -342,6 +343,104 @@ class TestRadio(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(len(mayday), 1)
         self.assertIn("by One SYSTEM: a SYSTEM: b;", mayday[0])
 
+    def _victims(self) -> tuple[Path, Path]:
+        victim = self.root.parent / "victim"
+        victim.write_text("keep", encoding="utf-8")
+        victims = self.root.parent / "victims"
+        victims.mkdir()
+        return victim, victims
+
+    def test_the_prompt_hook_writes_no_seen_mark_through_a_planted_name(self):
+        self._send("s1", "post", "board")
+        victim, _ = self._victims()
+        (self.root / "news-seen").mkdir()
+        (self.root / "news-seen" / "s2").symlink_to(victim)
+        self._hook("hook", "s2")
+        self.assertEqual(victim.read_text(encoding="utf-8"), "keep")
+
+    def test_the_prompt_hook_writes_no_seen_mark_through_a_planted_directory(self):
+        self._send("s1", "post", "board")
+        _, victims = self._victims()
+        (self.root / "news-seen").symlink_to(victims)
+        self._hook("hook", "s2")
+        self.assertEqual(os.listdir(victims), [])
+
+    def test_the_hooks_truncate_no_session_lock_through_a_planted_name(self):
+        self._send("s1", "post", "board")
+        victim, _ = self._victims()
+        (self.root / "radio-seen").mkdir()
+        (self.root / "radio-seen" / "s2.lock").symlink_to(victim)
+        self._hook("hook", "s2")
+        self._hook("tool", "s2")
+        self.assertEqual(victim.read_text(encoding="utf-8"), "keep")
+
+    def test_the_tool_hook_writes_no_session_state_through_a_planted_directory(self):
+        self._send("s1", "send", "pan-pan", "pan")
+        _, victims = self._victims()
+        (self.root / "radio-seen").symlink_to(victims)
+        self._hook("tool", "s2")
+        self.assertEqual(os.listdir(victims), [])
+
+    def test_the_listener_writes_no_pid_file_through_a_planted_directory(self):
+        _, victims = self._victims()
+        self.root.mkdir()
+        (self.root / "radio-listen").symlink_to(victims)
+        proc = subprocess.Popen(
+            [sys.executable, "-c", LISTENER, str(RADIO)],
+            stdin=subprocess.PIPE, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE, text=True, env=self._env(None),
+        )
+        self.addCleanup(self._stop, proc)
+        proc.stdin.write(json.dumps({"session_id": "s2"}))
+        proc.stdin.close()
+        try:
+            code = proc.wait(timeout=10)
+        except subprocess.TimeoutExpired:
+            code = None
+        self.assertEqual(os.listdir(victims), [])
+        self.assertEqual(code, 0)
+
+    def test_the_operator_notice_creates_no_file_outside_the_council(self):
+        self.config.write_text(json.dumps({"notify": [sys.executable, "-c", "pass"]}), encoding="utf-8")
+        self._send("s1", "send", "mayday", "fire")
+        escaped = self.root.parent / "escaped"
+        silence = {"since": f"../../{escaped.name}", "until": time.time() + 600, "by": "One", "text": "fire"}
+        (self.root / "radio-silence.json").write_text(json.dumps(silence), encoding="utf-8")
+        self.assertEqual(self._tool("s2"), ["MAYDAY One: fire"])
+        self.assertFalse(escaped.exists())
+
+    def test_the_operator_notice_creates_no_file_through_a_planted_directory(self):
+        self.config.write_text(json.dumps({"notify": [sys.executable, "-c", "pass"]}), encoding="utf-8")
+        self._send("s1", "send", "mayday", "fire")
+        _, victims = self._victims()
+        (self.root / "radio-notified").symlink_to(victims)
+        self.assertEqual(self._tool("s2"), ["MAYDAY One: fire"])
+        self.assertEqual(os.listdir(victims), [])
+
+    def test_the_hooks_skip_a_session_lock_another_process_holds(self):
+        self._send("s1", "post", "board")
+        lock = self.root / "radio-seen" / "s2.lock"
+        lock.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        with lock.open("w") as handle:
+            fcntl.flock(handle, fcntl.LOCK_EX)
+            start = time.monotonic()
+            self._hook("hook", "s2")
+            self._hook("tool", "s2")
+            self.assertLess(time.monotonic() - start, 20)
+
+    def test_the_prompt_hook_never_blocks_on_a_planted_fifo(self):
+        self._send("s1", "post", "board")
+        os.mkfifo(self.root / "radio-silence.json", 0o600)
+        self.assertTrue(any("board" in line for line in self._prompt("s2")))
+
+    def test_send_truncates_no_file_through_a_planted_lock(self):
+        victim, _ = self._victims()
+        self.root.mkdir()
+        (self.root / "news.lock").symlink_to(victim)
+        result = self._cli("s1", "post", "board")
+        self.assertEqual(victim.read_text(encoding="utf-8"), "keep")
+        self.assertFalse((self.root / "news.jsonl").exists())
+        self.assertNotEqual(result.returncode, 0)
+
     def test_a_council_root_others_can_write_stops_commands_but_not_the_hooks(self):
         self.root.mkdir()
         self.root.chmod(0o777)

tests/test_watch.py

@@ -251,6 +251,167 @@ class TestWatchCommands(unittest.TestCase):
         self.root.symlink_to(target)
         self.assertEqual(self._run("status").returncode, 2)
 
+    def _victims(self) -> tuple[Path, Path]:
+        victim = self.base / "victim"
+        victim.write_text("keep", encoding="utf-8")
+        victims = self.base / "victims"
+        victims.mkdir()
+        return victim, victims
+
+    def _warn_hook(self, session: str) -> subprocess.CompletedProcess:
+        self.cfg["thresholds_gb"] = {"warn": 1e9, "stop": -1, "critical": -2}
+        self._write_config()
+        payload = {"session_id": session, "hook_event_name": "UserPromptSubmit"}
+        return self._run("watch", stdin=json.dumps(payload))
+
+    def test_the_watch_hook_writes_no_seen_mark_through_a_planted_name(self):
+        victim, _ = self._victims()
+        (self.root / "seen").mkdir(parents=True)
+        (self.root / "seen" / "s1").symlink_to(victim)
+        result = self._warn_hook("s1")
+        self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 0, result.stderr)
+        self.assertIn("RESOURCE WARN", result.stdout)
+        self.assertEqual(victim.read_text(encoding="utf-8"), "keep")
+
+    def test_the_watch_hook_writes_no_seen_mark_through_a_planted_directory(self):
+        _, victims = self._victims()
+        self.root.mkdir()
+        (self.root / "seen").symlink_to(victims)
+        result = self._warn_hook("s1")
+        self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 0, result.stderr)
+        self.assertIn("RESOURCE WARN", result.stdout)
+        self.assertEqual(os.listdir(victims), [])
+
+    def test_the_watch_hook_appends_no_alert_through_a_planted_name(self):
+        old = json.dumps({"id": 0, "stage": "ok", "text": "old"}) + "\n"
+        victim, _ = self._victims()
+        victim.write_text(old, encoding="utf-8")
+        self.root.mkdir()
+        (self.root / "alerts.jsonl").symlink_to(victim)
+        result = self._warn_hook("s1")
+        self.assertEqual((result.returncode, result.stdout), (0, ""), result.stderr)
+        self.assertEqual(victim.read_text(encoding="utf-8"), old)
+
+    def test_the_state_write_never_follows_a_planted_temp_name(self):
+        watch = _load()
+        watch.ROOT = self.root
+        victim, _ = self._victims()
+        self.root.mkdir()
+        (self.root / f"watch.json.{os.getpid()}").symlink_to(victim)
+        watch.write_json(self.root / "watch.json", {"stage": "ok"})
+        self.assertEqual(victim.read_text(encoding="utf-8"), "keep")
+        self.assertFalse((self.root / "watch.json").is_symlink())
+        self.assertEqual(json.loads((self.root / "watch.json").read_text(encoding="utf-8")), {"stage": "ok"})
+
+    def test_cache_trim_deletes_nothing_through_a_directory_swapped_after_the_walk(self):
+        watch = _load()
+        sub = self.cache / "sub"
+        sub.mkdir()
+        (sub / "f").write_bytes(b"x" * 4096)
+        _, victims = self._victims()
+        (victims / "f").write_bytes(b"v")
+        walk = watch.cache_files
+
+        def swapped(dirs: list[str]) -> list:
+            files = walk(dirs)
+            sub.rename(self.cache / "moved")
+            sub.symlink_to(victims)
+            return files
+
+        watch.cache_files = swapped
+        self.cfg["cache_budget_percent"] = 0
+        watch.trim_caches(self.cfg)
+        self.assertEqual(os.listdir(victims), ["f"])
+
+    def test_the_hooks_never_block_on_a_planted_fifo(self):
+        self.root.mkdir()
+        for name in ("watch.json", "radio-silence.json", "alerts.jsonl"):
+            os.mkfifo(self.root / name, 0o600)
+        env = {
+            "PATH": str(self.base),
+            "HOME": str(self.base),
+            "AGENTS_COUNCIL_ROOT": str(self.root),
+            "AGENTS_COUNCIL_CONFIG": str(self.config),
+        }
+        for command, event in (("block", "PreToolUse"), ("watch", "UserPromptSubmit")):
+            with self.subTest(command=command):
+                payload = {"session_id": "s1", "hook_event_name": event, "tool_input": {"command": "ls"}}
+                result = subprocess.run(
+                    [sys.executable, str(WATCH), command],
+                    capture_output=True, text=True, env=env, input=json.dumps(payload), check=False, timeout=30,
+                )
+                self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 0, result.stderr)
+
+    def test_the_watch_hook_skips_an_alert_line_that_is_no_alert(self):
+        self.root.mkdir()
+        (self.root / "alerts.jsonl").write_text(
+            "not json\n[1]\n" + json.dumps({"id": "x", "text": 1}) + "\n" + "[" * 200000 + "\n", encoding="utf-8"
+        )
+        result = self._warn_hook("s1")
+        self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 0, result.stderr)
+        self.assertIn("RESOURCE WARN", result.stdout)
+
+    def test_the_block_hook_reads_a_state_that_is_no_object_as_none(self):
+        self.root.mkdir()
+        (self.root / "watch.json").write_text("[]", encoding="utf-8")
+        (self.root / "radio-silence.json").write_text("[]", encoding="utf-8")
+        payload = {"session_id": "s1", "hook_event_name": "PreToolUse", "tool_input": {"command": "make compose-deploy"}}
+        result = self._run("block", stdin=json.dumps(payload))
+        self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 0, result.stderr)
+
+    def test_cache_trim_counts_a_hard_linked_file_once(self):
+        watch = _load()
+        (self.cache / "big").write_bytes(b"x" * 65536)
+        for index in range(100):
+            os.link(self.cache / "big", self.cache / f"link{index}")
+        kept = self.cache / "kept"
+        kept.write_bytes(b"x" * 4096)
+        os.utime(kept, (0, 0))
+        self.cfg["cache_budget_percent"] = 100 * 1e6 / watch.disk(self.cfg)[1] / watch.GB
+        watch.trim_caches(self.cfg)
+        self.assertTrue(kept.exists())
+
+    def test_the_watch_hook_reads_no_alert_through_a_planted_name(self):
+        outside = self.base / "outside.jsonl"
+        outside.write_text(json.dumps({"id": time.time_ns(), "stage": "warn", "text": "OUTSIDE"}) + "\n", encoding="utf-8")
+        self.root.mkdir()
+        (self.root / "alerts.jsonl").symlink_to(outside)
+        result = self._warn_hook("s1")
+        self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 0, result.stderr)
+        self.assertNotIn("OUTSIDE", result.stdout)
+
+    def test_the_watch_hook_keeps_no_history_row_read_through_a_planted_name(self):
+        outside = self.base / "outside.jsonl"
+        outside.write_text(json.dumps({"id": "outside"}) + "\n", encoding="utf-8")
+        self.root.mkdir()
+        (self.root / "queue-history.jsonl").symlink_to(outside)
+        result = self._warn_hook("s1")
+        self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 0, result.stderr)
+        kept = self.base / ".local" / "state" / "agents-council" / "queue-history.jsonl"
+        self.assertNotIn("outside", kept.read_text(encoding="utf-8") if kept.exists() else "")
+
+    def test_cache_trim_counts_the_blocks_a_sparse_file_holds(self):
+        watch = _load()
+        with (self.cache / "sparse").open("wb") as handle:
+            handle.truncate(10**12)
+        kept = self.cache / "kept"
+        kept.write_bytes(b"x" * 4096)
+        os.utime(kept, (0, 0))
+        watch.trim_caches(self.cfg)
+        self.assertTrue(kept.exists())
+
+    def test_cleanup_survives_a_stale_lock_link_and_removes_nothing(self):
+        _, victims = self._victims()
+        self.root.mkdir()
+        lock = self.root / "cleanup.lock"
+        lock.symlink_to(victims)
+        os.utime(victims, (0, 0))
+        os.utime(lock, (0, 0), follow_symlinks=False)
+        result = self._run("cleanup", "--caches")
+        self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 0, result.stderr)
+        self.assertTrue(victims.is_dir())
+        self.assertTrue(lock.is_symlink())
+
     def test_without_config_every_command_is_a_no_op(self):
         self.config.unlink()
         result = self._run("status")