fix(security): remove unauthenticated file-based permission polling

Remove the legacy file-based permission polling from useSwarmPermissionPoller
that read from ~/.claude/teams/{name}/permissions/resolved/ — an unauthenticated
directory where any local process could forge approval files to auto-approve
tool uses for swarm teammates.

The file polling was dead code:
- The useSwarmPermissionPoller() hook was never mounted by any component
- resolvePermission() (the file writer) was never imported outside its module
- Permission responses are delivered exclusively via the mailbox system:
  Leader: sendPermissionResponseViaMailbox() → writeToMailbox()
  Worker: useInboxPoller → processMailboxPermissionResponse()

Changes:
- Remove file polling loop, processResponse(), and React hook imports from
  useSwarmPermissionPoller.ts (now a pure callback registry module)
- Mark 7 file-based functions as @deprecated in permissionSync.ts
- Add 4 regression tests verifying the removal

No exported functions removed — only deprecated. All 5 consumer modules
verified: they import only mailbox-based functions that remain unchanged.

src/__tests__/security-hardening.test.ts

@@ -124,3 +124,68 @@ describe('WebFetch SSRF guard', () => {
     expect(fnSection).toContain('lookup: ssrfGuardedLookup')
   })
 })
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Fix 6: Swarm permission file polling removed (security hardening)
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+describe('Swarm permission file polling removed', () => {
+  test('useSwarmPermissionPoller hook no longer exists', async () => {
+    const content = await file(
+      'hooks/useSwarmPermissionPoller.ts',
+    ).text()
+    // The file-based polling hook must not exist — it read from an
+    // unauthenticated resolved/ directory where any local process could
+    // forge approval files.
+    expect(content).not.toContain('function useSwarmPermissionPoller(')
+    // The file-based processResponse must not exist
+    expect(content).not.toContain('function processResponse(')
+  })
+
+  test('poller does not import from permissionSync', async () => {
+    const content = await file(
+      'hooks/useSwarmPermissionPoller.ts',
+    ).text()
+    // Must not import anything from permissionSync — all file-based
+    // functions have been removed from this module's dependencies
+    expect(content).not.toContain('permissionSync')
+  })
+
+  test('file-based permission functions are marked deprecated', async () => {
+    const content = await file(
+      'utils/swarm/permissionSync.ts',
+    ).text()
+    // All file-based functions must have @deprecated JSDoc
+    const deprecatedFns = [
+      'writePermissionRequest',
+      'readPendingPermissions',
+      'readResolvedPermission',
+      'resolvePermission',
+      'pollForResponse',
+      'removeWorkerResponse',
+    ]
+    for (const fn of deprecatedFns) {
+      // Find the function and check that @deprecated appears before it
+      const fnIndex = content.indexOf(`export async function ${fn}(`)
+      if (fnIndex === -1) continue // submitPermissionRequest is a const, not async function
+      const preceding = content.slice(Math.max(0, fnIndex - 500), fnIndex)
+      expect(preceding).toContain('@deprecated')
+    }
+  })
+
+  test('mailbox-based functions are NOT deprecated', async () => {
+    const content = await file(
+      'utils/swarm/permissionSync.ts',
+    ).text()
+    // These are the active path — must not be deprecated
+    const activeFns = [
+      'sendPermissionRequestViaMailbox',
+      'sendPermissionResponseViaMailbox',
+    ]
+    for (const fn of activeFns) {
+      const fnIndex = content.indexOf(`export async function ${fn}(`)
+      expect(fnIndex).not.toBe(-1)
+      const preceding = content.slice(Math.max(0, fnIndex - 300), fnIndex)
+      expect(preceding).not.toContain('@deprecated')
+    }
+  })
+})

src/hooks/useSwarmPermissionPoller.ts

@@ -1,34 +1,23 @@
 /**
- * Swarm Permission Poller Hook
+ * Swarm Permission Callback Registry
  *
- * This hook polls for permission responses from the team leader when running
+ * Manages callback registrations for permission requests and responses
- * as a worker agent in a swarm. When a response is received, it calls the
+ * in agent swarms. Responses are delivered exclusively via the mailbox
- * appropriate callback (onAllow/onReject) to continue execution.
+ * system (useInboxPoller → processMailboxPermissionResponse).
  *
- * This hook should be used in conjunction with the worker-side integration
+ * The legacy file-based polling (resolved/ directory) has been removed
- * in useCanUseTool.ts, which creates pending requests that this hook monitors.
+ * because it created an unauthenticated attack surface — any local process
+ * could forge approval files. The mailbox path is the sole active channel.
  */
 
-import { useCallback, useEffect, useRef } from 'react'
-import { useInterval } from 'usehooks-ts'
 import { logForDebugging } from '../utils/debug.js'
-import { errorMessage } from '../utils/errors.js'
 import {
   type PermissionUpdate,
   permissionUpdateSchema,
 } from '../utils/permissions/PermissionUpdateSchema.js'
-import {
-  isSwarmWorker,
-  type PermissionResponse,
-  pollForResponse,
-  removeWorkerResponse,
-} from '../utils/swarm/permissionSync.js'
-import { getAgentName, getTeamName } from '../utils/teammate.js'
-
-const POLL_INTERVAL_MS = 500
 
 /**
- * Validate permissionUpdates from external sources (mailbox IPC, disk polling).
+ * Validate permissionUpdates from external sources (mailbox IPC).
  * Malformed entries from buggy/old teammate processes are filtered out rather
  * than propagated unchecked into callback.onAllow().
  */
@@ -225,106 +214,9 @@ export function processSandboxPermissionResponse(params: {
   return true
 }
 
-/**
+// Legacy file-based polling (useSwarmPermissionPoller, processResponse)
- * Process a permission response by invoking the registered callback
+// has been removed. Permission responses are now delivered exclusively
- */
+// via the mailbox system:
-function processResponse(response: PermissionResponse): boolean {
+//   Leader: sendPermissionResponseViaMailbox() → writeToMailbox()
-  const callback = pendingCallbacks.get(response.requestId)
+//   Worker: useInboxPoller → processMailboxPermissionResponse()
-
+// See: fix(security) — remove unauthenticated file-based permission channel
-  if (!callback) {
-    logForDebugging(
-      `[SwarmPermissionPoller] No callback registered for request ${response.requestId}`,
-    )
-    return false
-  }
-
-  logForDebugging(
-    `[SwarmPermissionPoller] Processing response for request ${response.requestId}: ${response.decision}`,
-  )
-
-  // Remove from registry before invoking callback
-  pendingCallbacks.delete(response.requestId)
-
-  if (response.decision === 'approved') {
-    const permissionUpdates = parsePermissionUpdates(response.permissionUpdates)
-    const updatedInput = response.updatedInput
-    callback.onAllow(updatedInput, permissionUpdates)
-  } else {
-    callback.onReject(response.feedback)
-  }
-
-  return true
-}
-
-/**
- * Hook that polls for permission responses when running as a swarm worker.
- *
- * This hook:
- * 1. Only activates when isSwarmWorker() returns true
- * 2. Polls every 500ms for responses
- * 3. When a response is found, invokes the registered callback
- * 4. Cleans up the response file after processing
- */
-export function useSwarmPermissionPoller(): void {
-  const isProcessingRef = useRef(false)
-
-  const poll = useCallback(async () => {
-    // Don't poll if not a swarm worker
-    if (!isSwarmWorker()) {
-      return
-    }
-
-    // Prevent concurrent polling
-    if (isProcessingRef.current) {
-      return
-    }
-
-    // Don't poll if no callbacks are registered
-    if (pendingCallbacks.size === 0) {
-      return
-    }
-
-    isProcessingRef.current = true
-
-    try {
-      const agentName = getAgentName()
-      const teamName = getTeamName()
-
-      if (!agentName || !teamName) {
-        return
-      }
-
-      // Check each pending request for a response
-      for (const [requestId, _callback] of pendingCallbacks) {
-        const response = await pollForResponse(requestId, agentName, teamName)
-
-        if (response) {
-          // Process the response
-          const processed = processResponse(response)
-
-          if (processed) {
-            // Clean up the response from the worker's inbox
-            await removeWorkerResponse(requestId, agentName, teamName)
-          }
-        }
-      }
-    } catch (error) {
-      logForDebugging(
-        `[SwarmPermissionPoller] Error during poll: ${errorMessage(error)}`,
-      )
-    } finally {
-      isProcessingRef.current = false
-    }
-  }, [])
-
-  // Only poll if we're a swarm worker
-  const shouldPoll = isSwarmWorker()
-  useInterval(() => void poll(), shouldPoll ? POLL_INTERVAL_MS : null)
-
-  // Initial poll on mount
-  useEffect(() => {
-    if (isSwarmWorker()) {
-      void poll()
-    }
-  }, [poll])
-}

src/utils/swarm/permissionSync.ts

@@ -207,6 +207,10 @@ export function createPermissionRequest(params: {
 }
 
 /**
+ * @deprecated Use sendPermissionRequestViaMailbox() instead. This file-based
+ * approach writes to an unauthenticated directory where any local process can
+ * forge requests. Retained for backward compatibility but no longer called.
+ *
  * Write a permission request to the pending directory with file locking
  * Called by worker agents when they need permission approval from the leader
  *
@@ -250,6 +254,10 @@ export async function writePermissionRequest(
 }
 
 /**
+ * @deprecated No longer called — permission requests are sent via mailbox.
+ * The pending directory is an unauthenticated channel. Retained for backward
+ * compatibility.
+ *
  * Read all pending permission requests for a team
  * Called by the team leader to see what requests need attention
  */
@@ -312,6 +320,11 @@ export async function readPendingPermissions(
 }
 
 /**
+ * @deprecated No longer called — permission responses are delivered via mailbox
+ * (processMailboxPermissionResponse). The resolved directory is an unauthenticated
+ * channel where any local process can forge approvals. Retained for backward
+ * compatibility.
+ *
  * Read a resolved permission request by ID
  * Called by workers to check if their request has been resolved
  *
@@ -352,6 +365,10 @@ export async function readResolvedPermission(
 }
 
 /**
+ * @deprecated Use sendPermissionResponseViaMailbox() instead. This file-based
+ * approach writes to an unauthenticated directory where any local process can
+ * forge approvals. Retained for backward compatibility but no longer called.
+ *
  * Resolve a permission request
  * Called by the team leader (or worker in self-resolution cases)
  *
@@ -536,6 +553,10 @@ export type PermissionResponse = {
 }
 
 /**
+ * @deprecated Use processMailboxPermissionResponse() via useInboxPoller instead.
+ * File-based polling reads from an unauthenticated directory where any local
+ * process can forge approval files. Retained for backward compatibility.
+ *
  * Poll for a permission response (worker-side convenience function)
  * Converts the resolved request into a simpler response format
  *
@@ -564,6 +585,9 @@ export async function pollForResponse(
 }
 
 /**
+ * @deprecated File-based response cleanup is no longer needed — responses are
+ * delivered via mailbox. Retained for backward compatibility.
+ *
  * Remove a worker's response after processing
  * This is an alias for deleteResolvedPermission for backward compatibility
  */
@@ -601,6 +625,9 @@ export function isSwarmWorker(): boolean {
 }
 
 /**
+ * @deprecated File-based resolved permissions are no longer written. Responses
+ * are delivered via mailbox. Retained for backward compatibility.
+ *
  * Delete a resolved permission file
  * Called after a worker has processed the resolution
  */
@@ -635,8 +662,8 @@ export async function deleteResolvedPermission(
 }
 
 /**
- * Submit a permission request (alias for writePermissionRequest)
+ * @deprecated Alias for writePermissionRequest, which is itself deprecated.
- * Provided for backward compatibility with worker integration code
+ * Use sendPermissionRequestViaMailbox() instead.
  */
 export const submitPermissionRequest = writePermissionRequest