agent-approvals-security.md Codex Docs, 2026-03-07 00:33 UTC → 2026-04-13 18:37 UTC

8 8 

9By default, the agent runs with network access turned off. Locally, Codex uses an OS-enforced sandbox that limits what it can touch (typically to the current workspace), plus an approval policy that controls when it must stop and ask you before acting.9By default, the agent runs with network access turned off. Locally, Codex uses an OS-enforced sandbox that limits what it can touch (typically to the current workspace), plus an approval policy that controls when it must stop and ask you before acting.

10 10 

11For a high-level explanation of how sandboxing works across the Codex app, IDE

12extension, and CLI, see [sandboxing](https://developers.openai.com/codex/concepts/sandboxing).

13For a broader enterprise security overview, see the [Codex security white paper](https://trust.openai.com/?itemUid=382f924d-54f3-43a8-a9df-c39e6c959958&source=click).

14 

11## Sandbox and approvals15## Sandbox and approvals

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13Codex security controls come from two layers that work together:17Codex security controls come from two layers that work together:

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78If you need Codex to read files, make edits, and run commands with network access without approval prompts, use `--sandbox danger-full-access` (or the `--dangerously-bypass-approvals-and-sandbox` flag). Use caution before doing so.82If you need Codex to read files, make edits, and run commands with network access without approval prompts, use `--sandbox danger-full-access` (or the `--dangerously-bypass-approvals-and-sandbox` flag). Use caution before doing so.

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80For a middle ground, `approval_policy = { reject = { ... } }` lets you auto-reject specific approval prompt categories (sandbox escalation, execpolicy-rule prompts, or MCP elicitations) while keeping other prompts interactive.84For a middle ground, `approval_policy = { granular = { ... } }` lets you keep specific approval prompt categories interactive while automatically rejecting others. The granular policy covers sandbox approvals, execpolicy-rule prompts, MCP prompts, `request_permissions` prompts, and skill-script approvals.

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86Set `approvals_reviewer = "guardian_subagent"` to route eligible approval reviews through the Guardian reviewer subagent instead of prompting the user directly. Admin requirements can constrain this with `allowed_approvals_reviewers`.

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82### Common sandbox and approval combinations88### Common sandbox and approval combinations

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107[sandbox_workspace_write]113[sandbox_workspace_write]

108network_access = true114network_access = true

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110# Optional: granular approval prompt auto-rejection116# Optional: granular approval policy

111# approval_policy = { reject = { sandbox_approval = true, rules = false, mcp_elicitations = false } }117# approval_policy = { granular = {

118# sandbox_approval = true,

119# rules = true,

120# mcp_elicitations = true,

121# request_permissions = false,

122# skill_approval = false

123# } }

112```124```

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114You can also save presets as profiles, then select them with `codex --profile <name>`:126You can also save presets as profiles, then select them with `codex --profile <name>`:

141Codex enforces the sandbox differently depending on your OS:153Codex enforces the sandbox differently depending on your OS:

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143- **macOS** uses Seatbelt policies and runs commands using `sandbox-exec` with a profile (`-p`) that corresponds to the `--sandbox` mode you selected. When restricted read access enables platform defaults, Codex appends a curated macOS platform policy (instead of broadly allowing `/System`) to preserve common tool compatibility.155- **macOS** uses Seatbelt policies and runs commands using `sandbox-exec` with a profile (`-p`) that corresponds to the `--sandbox` mode you selected. When restricted read access enables platform defaults, Codex appends a curated macOS platform policy (instead of broadly allowing `/System`) to preserve common tool compatibility.

144- **Linux** uses `Landlock` plus `seccomp` by default. You can opt into the alternative Linux sandbox pipeline with `features.use_linux_sandbox_bwrap = true` (or `-c use_linux_sandbox_bwrap=true`). In managed proxy mode, the bwrap pipeline routes egress through a proxy-only bridge and fails closed if it cannot build valid loopback proxy routes; landlock-only flows do not use that bridge behavior.156- **Linux** uses the `bwrap` pipeline plus `seccomp` by default. `use_legacy_landlock` is available when you need the older path. In managed proxy mode, the default `bwrap` pipeline routes egress through a proxy-only bridge and fails closed if it can’t build valid local proxy routes.

145- **Windows** uses the Linux sandbox implementation when running in [Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)](https://developers.openai.com/codex/windows#windows-subsystem-for-linux). When running natively on Windows, Codex uses a [Windows sandbox](https://developers.openai.com/codex/windows#windows-sandbox) implementation.157- **Windows** uses the Linux sandbox implementation when running in [Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL2)](https://developers.openai.com/codex/windows#windows-subsystem-for-linux). WSL1 was supported through Codex `0.114`; starting in `0.115`, the Linux sandbox moved to `bwrap`, so WSL1 is no longer supported. When running natively on Windows, Codex uses a [Windows sandbox](https://developers.openai.com/codex/windows#windows-sandbox) implementation.

146 158 

147If you use the Codex IDE extension on Windows, it supports WSL directly. Set the following in your VS Code settings to keep the agent inside WSL whenever it’s available:159If you use the Codex IDE extension on Windows, it supports WSL2 directly. Set the following in your VS Code settings to keep the agent inside WSL2 whenever it's available:

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149```json161```json

150{162{

159```toml171```toml

160[windows]172[windows]

161sandbox = "unelevated" # or "elevated"173sandbox = "unelevated" # or "elevated"

174# sandbox_private_desktop = true # default; set false only for compatibility

162```175```

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164See the [Windows setup guide](https://developers.openai.com/codex/windows#windows-sandbox) for details.177See the [Windows setup guide](https://developers.openai.com/codex/windows#windows-sandbox) for details.